FT: Iran opposition group seeks US legitimacy

[deminks]

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/5f91ebd4-45be-11da-981b-00000e2511c8.html

By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: October 26 2005 03:00 | Last updated: October 26 2005 03:00

Even by the standards of Washington politics it was an unusual spectacle - the veiled leader of a Middle East group banned in the US as a terrorist organisation delivering a speech by live video-link to applauding members of Congress inside the Capitol itself.

But since the organisation is dedicated to the overthrow of Iran's theocracy, the People's Mujahideen Organisation and its political co-leader, Maryam Rajavi, are given leeway in the US as they campaign to have the "terrorist" tag removed and to become eligible for US funding of Iranian opposition groups.

Known by its acronyms MKO and MEK, the group led by Mrs Rajavi and her husband Massoud, was outlawed by the US for its killing of Americans before the 1979 Iranian revolution; alleged collaboration with Saddam Hussein's genocidal campaigns against Iraqi Kurds; and attacks on civilians inside Iran.

Diplomats and two US officials said the latest review was prompted by the conclusion reached by Condoleezza Rice, secretary of state, and others that an effective sanctions option did not exist, and that they had been misled by the predictions of neoconservatives who saw the Iranian regime ripe for overthrow by a restless populace.

[HuffleClaw]

1. hmmm. so now they are 'freedom fighters' ?????

that really is just disgusting. truly. but again, its just business as usual for a criminal administration. i note the article mentions it was CLINTON who gave this group their 'terrorist' label and we know only too well that ANYTHING even remotely related to clinton is seen as eeeevil by this group of buffoons who occupy the white house.

[LynnTheDem]

2. bushCabal's bullshit the past 3 years with the MEK is unreal.

First they were "terrorists".

Then bushCabal wanted to use the MEK to fight Iraqi "insurgents" and left the MEK armed.

Then bushCabal decided to unarm the MEK; the MEK told bushCabal fuck off.

Then bushCabal NEGOTIATED with the "TERRORIST" group to allow them to keep their arms but not to interfere in Iraq.

Then bushCabal decided to use the MEK to stir up trouble inside Iran and overthrow that regime.

Then some republican senators thought hey wait a minute that wouldn't look too good, us funding a group we list as 'TERRORIST".

Then bushCabal decided NOT to fund the MEK to cause trouble in Iran and wanted the MEK disarmed.

The MEK said fuck you.

Then Turkey said disarm the MEK or we will.

bushCabal promised Turkey the US would disarm the MEK. And didn't.

Turkey several times has gone public that the US promised to disarm the MEK and hasn't, and if US doesn't, Turkey will.

***********

The US always does that; use TERRORIST GROUPS for US's interests. That's called STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM.

Usama bin Laden
Pinochet
Ho Chi Mingh
Charles Taylor
Karimov
Saddam Hussein

It just never ends. Use people, get them to do the dirty work which involves the deaths of others, then turn around and stab them in the back...and ya wonder why all sides hate us.