Monsters of the Left: The Mujahedin al-Khalq

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | January 13, 2006 | Michael Rubin

[Khashayar]

Few terrorists groups garner the bipartisan endorsement and support that Iran's Mujahedin al-Khalq Organization [MKO] has. On October 20, 2005, several congressmen and many aides attended a briefing in Congress. Maryam Rajavi, co-leader of the group and self-styled president-elect of Iran, addressed the gathering by video from France.[1] She received a warm reception. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) thanked "Sister Maryam."[2] A bipartisan group of U.S. Congressmen have signed petitions calling for the U.S. Department of State to lift its 1997 classification of the group as a terrorist organization.[3] In an April 8, 2003 interview, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), chairwoman of the House International Relations Committee's Central Asia and Middle East Subcommittee said, "This group loves the United States. They're assisting us in the war on terrorism; they're pro-U.S. This group has not been fighting against the U.S. It's simply not true."[4] Ros-Lehtinen is wrong. Unfortunately, hers is a mistake common to some on the left and the right who care deeply about Iranian freedom but fail to understand the nature of a group which, in public, says the right things about freedom and democracy but, in reality is dedicated to the opposite. Maryam Rajavi and her husband Masud are adept at public relations and adroit at reinvention, but the organization over which they preside eschews democracy and embraces terrorism, autocracy, and Marxism.

Origins

The roots of the MKO lie in the early 1960s. For years, clerical and feudal interests had blocked real reform in Iran. Society was paralyzed. In 1961, under pressure from the Kennedy administration, the Shah appointed as prime minister ‘Ali Amini, an Iranian aristocrat and former ambassador to the United States, whom Washington respected as a reformer. Amini began to challenge the tr

[nuconvert]

MEK/MKO/NCRI/PMOI is a CULT and YOU have their talking points down pat.
Here is why they are a cult:

"Though for years the Mujahedeen preached a Marxist-Islamic ideology, it has modernized with the times. Today, one of the standard lines of the Mujahedeen's National Council of Resistance to politicians in Europe and America is that it is advocating a secular, democratic government in Iran, and that when it overthrows the regime, it will set up a six-month interim government with Maryam as president and then hold free elections. But despite its rhetoric, the Mujahedeen operates like any other dictatorship. Mujahedeen members have no access to newspapers or radio or television, other than what is fed them. As the historian Abrahamian told me, ''No one can criticize Rajavi.'' And everyone must go through routine self-criticism sessions. ''It's all done on tape, so they have records of what you say."
" friendship was forbidden. No two people could sit alone and talk together, especially about their former lives. Informants were planted everywhere. It was Maryam's idea to kill emotional relationships. ''She called it 'drying the base,''' Afshari said. ''They kept telling us every one of your emotions should be channeled toward Massoud, and Massoud equals leadership, and leadership equals Iran.'' The segregation of the sexes began almost from toddlerhood. ''Girls were not allowed to speak to boys. If they were caught mingling, they were severely punished.''"
" ''You had to report every single day and confess your thoughts and dreams. ,...Men and women had to participate in ''weekly ideological cleansings,'' in which they would publicly confess their sexual desires. It was not only a form of control but also a means to delete all remnants of individual thought."

"inside Iran, the street protesters risking their lives and disappearing inside the regime's prisons consider the Mujahedeen a plague -- as toxic, if not more so, than the ruling clerics. After all, the Rajavis sold out their fellow Iranians to Saddam Hussein, trading intelligence about their home country for a place to house their Marxist-Islamist Rajavi sect."


"The MeK are Iranians who are not a threat to Americans, the United States or the Iranian people "

BS. They are a terrorist cult. They are traitors. They killed their own people. They worked for Saddam. They killed Kurds. "without exception, all (Iranians) spew venom toward the MKO. The group violence and its betrayal of Iranian nationalism lost it all popular support in Iran."
They killed Americans.
Massoud and Maryam are "monsters" who "use the rhetoric of democracy to realize their ambition."

Those who refuse to denounce or even speak poorly of Maryam Rajavi are followers of her cult.

You have done nothing since you arrived at FR but support the MEK/NCRI and whitewash their history and spread their propaganda.

Try as you will, You and your MEK friends here can't hide your agenda or your support for Maryam Rajavi and her cult.

[LibreOuMort]

MKO is no friend of the USA. The organization is extremely dangerous and ruthless. They make the Khmer Rouge look like boy scouts! I would not trust a word they say or anything they write if it says they are friendly towards the USA. Nothing that comes from this marxist terrorist group can be construed as truth. They may not favor the current regime in Iran, but they have an agenda that is just as sinister. Remember the promises of the "Revolution" and look how they played out.... LIES, LIES, and more DAMNED LIES!!!!! I hope the NSA is monitoring this place - they'd do well to heed the warnings on this thread. If someone with ties to DC could get the message to our government about MKO, that would be terrific.

[LibreOuMort]

You are dangerously deluded if you think that MEK/MKO are in favor of democracy. If you had read up on marxism you would have known that the end-all-be-all of that system is the DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT. So much for democracy and freedom. BTW, the Brooklyn Bridge is for sale.....

[humint]

You have done nothing since you arrived at FR but support the MEK/NCRI and whitewash their history and spread their propaganda.

Not true! My posts and my blog cover a variety of topics and opinions. With regard to this subject, a considerable amount of info has come to light as a result of U.S. military engagement in Iraq. I believe the first hand experiences coming out of Iraq and the quality analysis being done today about Iranian opposition groups are extremely valuable in terms of understanding the dynamics of the Iran problem and potential solutions to it. In terms of Iranian demonstrators calling for a new look at the FTO, what do you think about this German report? It’s an indication that not all Iranians share your opinion. And in my opinion it's ok to disagree with people and not make false accusations about them. I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making false accusations, is that clear?

VERFASSUNGSSCHUTZ-BERICHT 2004 - Page 238 – TRANSLATION, EXCERPT: "Approximately 5000 supporters of the NCRI demonstrated in front of the European Union Parliament in Brussels and demanded the MEK be removed from the EU's FTO list."

[odds]

There is very little difference between Khomeini's Islamic Republic and the MEK or MKO or whatever they now call themselves. "Islamic Marxism" is a ridiculous and contradictory term.

Both Islamic Republic and MEK are autocratic, oppressive, delusional and terrorists regimes headed by a bunch of megalomaniacs. The main difference is that Islamic Republic is currently in power and MEK is not, so it is striving for power and an absolute one at that. All the song and dance about "Democracy" by MEK is a massive deception. Khomeini made similar promises before he came into power. Anyone who knows about history will know that MEK has constantly aligned itself (mainly through atrocities) with anyone and anything to further its own cause and agenda at any cost. Their objective has never been patriotism toward Iran or its people. It has ALWAYS been about expediency.

"I believe there are legitimate ways to confront the oppressive Iranian regime and for more than five years the MeK has pursued those ways."

What exactly are these legitimate ways that the MEK has pursued ? Why don't you list a few positive achievements of the MEK for Iran and its people ? Bear in mind that brainwashing people to set themselves on fire, helping Saddam to kill Kurds and shi'ites, intimidating and assassinating people when they decide to leave the MEK cult, as a few examples, don't count as glorious pursuits. Nor is some rhetoric about Democracy, I very much doubt that MEK understands the true meaning or implications of Democracy!

Rest assured that the majority of Iranians would not want to be liberated by MEK and its pathetic ideology. History has not and will not judge you well. MEK's deeds speak louder then their words.

[Khashayar]

Are you a member of this cult?

[Khashayar]

This poor commie denounces the shah and his family but he fails to denounse marxist MEK

Why?

My answer is simple, he is either an MEK member or a delusional kid

[humint]

You are dangerously deluded if you think that MEK/MKO are in favor of democracy. If you had read up on marxism you would have known that the end-all-be-all of that system is the DICTATORSHIP OF THE PROLETARIAT. So much for democracy and freedom.

It's sad when one party concludes another is “deluded” and or “not well read” without first inquiring. The hallmark of a simple mind is its assumption of intellectual superiority over others. Your argument is flawed because it is a great example of hearsay history. The MeK has not declared its self a Marxist organization but in fact openly rejects Marxism. More importantly its political platform is not indicative of Marxism therefore your follow up points have no relevance in my opinion. But even if you were to follow the label “Islamic-Marxists” to its logical conclusion, beyond its irrelevance, where would their politics end up in your opinion? The label on its own is a dichotomy; therefore any true assessment of political direction requires a rigorous inspection of both speeches and political platforms. Have you read up on that material or is your assumption of intellectual superiority limited to Marxist theory?

[Khashayar]

humint is a famous supporter/speaker of MKO here on FR

reasoning with him is useless

[Khashayar]

I am an Iranian and I am sick of MKO

Whacha gonna do?

Speak for yourself

I'd rather live under the MULLAHS than to live with the communist/islamist MKO

get the hell out of here, dude

[Khashayar]

Thanks

Rest assured that the majority of Iranians would not want to be liberated by MEK and its pathetic ideology. History has not and will not judge you well. MEK's deeds speak louder then their words.

WELL PUT

[odds]

lol, thanks I gathered that.

Only wanted to tell him "nicely" to crawl under a rock or under one of those great leaderships he so passionately defends!

But seriously now, I think someone suggested that MEK and their supporters can be used to get rid of Khomeini's thugs. Well, I would say why not? Everyone else has used and discarded them at one time or another - they should identify well with that since it has always been one of their own tactics too. Only others have been successful and MEK has always failed.

[odds]

By the way, my previous post was in reply to yours saying "reasoning with humid was useless".

[humint]

What exactly are these legitimate ways that the MEK has pursued?

The U.N. Human Rites Commission recommends joint panel discussions about varied topics including cultural awareness and women’s rites in the ME. I believe these are legitimate ways. Much of what has been exposed about the Iranian regime’s human rites abuses, weapons programs and evidentiary links to terrorism has come from NCRI related European panel discussions where the NCRI is still a legal entity. The evidence provided is typically verifiable so reliability isn’t an issue. Here in the U.S., the NCRI is considered the political wing of the MEK therefore I use our language.

Welcome to FR odds. My ego is not so large as to believe history will take the time to judge me for the good or bad but it appears you do. Thanks, although I feel like I’ve just been threatened by an historian. The way I look at it, historians are the judges, not history. That process is out of my hands and so too is the cost to our legacy for sharing our opinions. But I’m not worried about my legacy now. That’s for individuals from future generations, people who would prefer to live in our time than their own to consider.

[humint]

This poor commie denounces the shah and his family but he fails to denounse marxist MEK

I've never denounced the Shah or the Shah's family. He was a despot and that's a fact not a denunciation. The MEK is on the terrorist list therefore the MEK are legally terrorists. That's a fact not a denunciation. It is my opinion that all Iranian opposition groups be supported to facilitate regime change in Iran. That's an opinion not a policy. You have called me a commie and delusional which are slurs not facts. Indeed, logic and reason are my specialties. :)

[odds]

Firstly, post Islamic Republic, cultural awareness and human rights including women's rights are topics that have been well documented and many individuals, social and political organizations have been raising awareness about them for many years now - well before MEK suddenly felt the urge to become patriotic and altruistic. It is appreciated but by no means an impressive record for MEK. Similar to Democracy rhetoric of MEK, I question its expediency. On balance and over the years, MEK has done more harm than good - that is a "fact".

Secondly, I am not a historian but history, as a series of documented events, is there for people to read if they choose to. Hopefully, we learn from it, recognize similarities and differences and don't repeat mistakes. It is obvious that my previous post to you was referring to MEK as an organization, its leadership, supporters and its actions - not you per se. The "present" MEK has a long long way to go to prove that it has been reformed. It certainly isn't repentant of its atrocious past deeds and utter failures. It simply justifies, denies and rationalizes its current and previous actions.

"Welcome to FR odds. My ego is not so large as to believe history will take the time to judge me for the good or bad but it appears you do. Thanks, although I feel like I’ve just been threatened by an historian. The way I look at it, historians are the judges, not history. That process is out of my hands and so too is the cost to our legacy for sharing our opinions."

Thanks for welcoming me to FR. I am glad you are keeping your ego in check. Equally, I suggest you keep your paranoia also in check - or was it the case that attack is the best form of defense? I believe we are all here to provide a perspective not to threaten others. The ones who feel threatened by history, or as you call it historians, are the ones whose actions or those actions they support have had a significant negative impact on others. Naturally, we live in the present time, but if not careful, history may have a way of repeating itself!

[nuconvert]

"My posts and my blog cover a variety of topics and opinions."

I meant (obviously) you have done nothing with regard to MEK, but support them and whitewash their history and spread their propaganda. Sure you post other things. Otherwise you'd have been banned a long time ago.


And "I'd appreciate it if you'd stop" the MEK propaganda and denounce the Rajavis who head a terrorist cult, (something you refuse to do) "is that clear?"

And as for your attempt at trying to prove that hordes of people support MEK........they are well known to pay to bus in, fly in, rail in, drive in, people who are both members of the cult and those who have no idea who MEK/NCRI are. (Reminds me of regime tactics in order to appear that there are hordes of regime supporters at demonstrations). They did it at the N.Y. rally outside the U.N. last year, as you well know. People were bribed and paid and given free trips to N.Y. if they would attend. And many of those paid had no idea who NCRI/MEK was.
So they managed to scrounge up an estimated 5,000 from what? 10 countries? And with France being their main base of operations in Europe. That's a pretty pathetic turnout.

But keep defending the cult and the Rajavis. We can't expect much different from a believer. Denounce them and their past actions, or no one can possibly begin believe your protestations and denials.

[nuconvert]

"The "present" MEK has a long long way to go to prove that it has
been reformed. It certainly isn't repentant of its atrocious past deeds and
utter failures. It simply justifies, denies and rationalizes its current and
previous actions."

 

Exactly. Thank you, odds.