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Israel Wants MKO to Position in Golan :::Stop The Press:::
TEHRAN, Jan. 10--Israel has proposed to the US that it station the members of the terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization [MKO] in Al-Jalil and Golan regions in order to confront Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Syrian Army, the Saudi-based weekly Al-Moharar Al-Arabi reported in its latest issue.
Based on a report by IRNA on Saturday, the weekly added that the CIA still intends to use the MKO against Iran. "The CIA, which familiarized MKO members with the most advanced and sophisticated weaponry in the course of Iran-Iraq war [1980-88], is still in touch with the group's leaders. The CIA is opposed to removing MKO from the list of American plans," it noted. The weekly also stated that the US has so far not found any regional country willing to harbor the MKO agents. "The US will probably ignore the proposal put forth by three Eastern European countries to harbor the MKO elements in return for extensive financial aid for the time being so that [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon could find the opportunity to host the group in Israel," it noted.
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Al-Masakin
http://majdur.htmlplanet.com
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Al-Masakin
http://majdur.htmlplanet.com
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On Apr. 15 US forces in Iraq signed a ceasefire agreement with an Iranian opposition group that the United States lists as a terrorist organization, a surprise move that has greatly concerned officials in Britain and outraged leaders in Iran.
The decision to cease hostilities with the People’s Mujahidin (MKO), an armed group of secular Iranian dissidents that has been fighting Tehran’s fundamentalist regime from inside Iraq for more than 20 years, is the first accord between the US and a listed terrorist organization.
The move by America is at odds with the Bush administration’s pledge to fight terrorist groups worldwide.
The MKO was formed in the 1960s and was expelled from Iran after the Islamic revolution in 1979. It formed an alliance with Saddam Hussein, who backed the group.
Only two weeks ago, US forces in northern Iraq bombed the MKO’s main base along the Iranian border, killing scores of fighters and destroying tanks and artillery.
The MKO, which has conducted bombings and assassinations against Iran’s leaders, also has a history of violence against Americans. It supported the takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979 and killed several US military and civilian officials in the 1970s. But the group developed allies in the US Congress for its opposition to Iranian fundamentalism.
“In the wake of the terrorist attacks in the US, Washington was portraying itself as anti-terrorist, but it entered into a deal with a terrorist group which they have nurtured and given a safe haven in Washington,” stated the head of Iran’s powerful expediency council.
Last Thursday, George W. Bush told the American people that the military victories in Iraq were just one part of his administration’s longer and broader “war on terror.” (Guardian UK, Times UK)
US-MKO deal a breach of Bush's anti-terrorism campaign: daily
`Iran Daily' on Saturday expressed shock at Washington's shocking deal with the shunned Iraq-based terrorist Mujahideen Khalq Organization (MKO), saying it is a breach of President Bush's anti-terrorism campaign, IRNA reported from Tehran.
In a move that has shocked world public opinion and has raised questions for both Iran and Iraq, the US commander of "Operation Iraqi Freedom" reportedly struck a deal with the MKO allowing them to retain their military camps in the war-town nation and assuring them security by American troops.
It is to be noted that the US-led forces bombed MKO bases, which had initially declared its neutrality in the war but later agreed to a ceasefire with the rebels, allowing them to move into war areas in a "non-combat formation."
The MKO has been blacklisted by the US and the UK as a "terrorist" group. It set up bases in Iraq in the mid-1980s and fought with the Baghdad regime against Iran during the eight-year imposed war. Since then it has been openly armed, backed and funded by Saddam Hussein until his ouster.
The outfit served the Iraqi regime in return for financial assistance and weapons. Its agents were trained by the Iraqi intelligence service and the army.
The MKO has not only been launching terrorist operations inside Iran but has also helped Saddam's regime quell the rebellious Kurds in northern Iraq and the Shiites in the south during the 1991 uprising of these Iraqi groups, the paper noted.
Documented reports released by American and European sources say it that the MKO cooperated with Saddam's elite Republican Guards and his Fedayeen paramilitary forces to suppress the Iraqi people.
American media and politicians have time and again underscored the terrorist nature of the group and have recently said it is among American targets in Iraq.
However, "it seems America now wants to protect the MKO by allowing it to keep the weapons given by Saddam to fight the Iraqis, it noted.
"Those adequately familiar with MKO characteristics are certainly not surprised about America's deal with the group," suggested the daily.
Washington's "scandalous" deal with the group now raises questions as to "whether Washington, like Saddam's regime, intends to use the banned group to confront the Iraqis who have legitimate demands about their rights of sovereignty?" said the daily.
It said America will have to answer to the Iraqi people, especially the Kurds in the north, who have been victims of MKO atrocities for so many years."
Undoubtedly, the US might use the terrorist MKO, Iran's main rebel group to pressure Iran into preventing it to do anything in favor of the Iraqi Shiites in the war-torn nation.
However, "if America looks deeper into the issue, it will realize that the group cannot be used as a threat against Iran's national security," pointed out the paper.
No wonder the despotic ruler of Baghdad so generously used the MKO elements for terrorist missions inside Iraq, it said.
Clearly, a deal with one of the most vicious groups which waged a bloody campaign in the early 1980s to topple the newly-born Islamic Republic with wave after wave of assassinations of the country's top officials in addition to helping Saddam murder his own people questions Washington's sincerity in its anti-terror campaign, blasted the daily.
It said the US will pay directly for the costs of keeping and protecting MKO agents inside Iraq which it knows to be a terrorist group.
What remains to be seen is what reaction the European Union, especially the UK will adopt towards this scandalous and destabilizing move, the daily concluded.
Tehran wants no friction with Washington on Iraqi issues: Rowhani
Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani said on Saturday that Tehran does not want any friction with Washington over issues concerning Iraq, IRNA reported.
In a meeting with Indian National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra in Tehran, Rowhani said that Iran believes in Iraq's territorial integrity, democracy, good neighborly relations and non-interference in Iraqi internal affairs.
Rowhani said that the United States unilateral approach on the international scene and its ignoring the key role of the United Nations posed a serious threat to global peace and security.
He called on the international community to work together under the aegis of the United Nations for bolstering peace and international cooperation.
Rowhani said that Iran does not accept presence of the US and British troops in Iraq or installing a puppet regime in Baghdad.
He said that Iraq's future government should have a friendly and good neighborly relationship with its neighbors adding that Iran favors establishment of a broad-based government in Iraq.
He condemned the US army commander in the area for signing a deal with the terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) and said that the United States and Britain should honor the United Nations Resolution 1373 on international campaign against terrorism adding that Iran does not accept any collaboration with the terrorist group.
On Tehran-New Delhi relations, Rowhani said that Iran's strategic relations with India serve to develop regional and international cooperation in Asia.
On Iran-India defense cooperation, he said that Iran never considers interference in other country's internal affairs and that cooperation with India for bolstering defense capability is because of the outbreak of five wars in the region in the past two decades.
He called for Iran-India cooperation in the campaign against terrorism and said that the judicial, security and intelligence sectors from the two countries would also foster cooperation.
Rowhani said that the topics of energy, transit of goods and transport as well as North-South Corridor and technology would be the best areas of economic cooperation and called for Iran-India joint investment.
Mishra said that the United States enjoys military superiority adding that only military power is not enough for resolving the international crises. Only international cooperation can help resolve the crisis, he said.
He said that India is willing to develop multi-faceted cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mishra voiced concern about reorganization of the terrorist Taliban group and said that he would convey his concern about Taliban to the Afghan government in his upcoming visit to Kabul.
He said that New Delhi government is keen on macro-economic cooperation with Iran adding that India gives importance to Iranian security.
The Indian national security adviser said that Tehran and New Delhi have the same concern about Iraqi territorial integrity and believe that any infringement of Iraqi territory would adversely effect the region.
Mishra said that the United States will not be able to restore peace and security in Iraq without seeking cooperation from the neighboring countries.
He said that security of the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean are inter-related adding that Iran and India are two strategic partner for maintenance of regional security.
http://www.payvand.com/news/03/apr/1126.html
Among the groups sponsoring the benefit Jan. 24, 04 is the Association of Iranian Women USA. The group is also known as the Association of Iranian Women, and is headed by Behjat Dehghan, whom intelligence sources have identified as a prominent MEK member in the United States.
Of the 23 organizations listed as sponsors for the event Saturday jan. 24 , 17 are known MEK front groups or linked to prominent MEK members and activists. None appears to be registered with the Internal Revenue Service or state agencies as legitimate businesses or charities.
Among the groups sponsoring the earthquake benefit is the Association of Iranian Women USA. The group is also known as the Association of Iranian Women, and is headed by Behjat Dehghan, whom intelligence sources have identified as a prominent MEK member in the United States.
Other sponsors of the event that have been identified in media reports as MEK front groups include the Iranian Society of South Florida, the Iranian-American Society of Texas, and the National Committee of Women for a Democratic Iran. Ramesh Sepehrrad spearheads the latter group. Intelligence officials say Sepehrrad is a major MEK organizer in Washington.
A number of the sponsor groups are known to have strong MEK sympathies. They include the Iranian-American Cultural Association of Missouri, Colorado’s Iranian-American Community, the Society of Iranian Americans in Dallas and the Association of Iranian-American Scholars in Southern California.
Source: The Hill
http://www.thehill.com/news/012104/terrorists.aspx
Even then, reports persisted of an easy-going relationship between the military and the MEK forces, leading the White House to clarify late last year that the MEK is "part of the global war on terrorism" and its members "are being screened for possible involvement in war crimes, terrorism and other criminal activities."
Source: Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58296-2004Jan28.html?nav=hptoc_n
IRNA: 29 Jan. 04 MKO`s financial contacts with foreign terrorists in Norway uncovered. Norway's anti-terror police have uncovered networks for smuggling money from abroad for terrorist groups, including (the terrorist opposition group MKO) Mojahedin-e Khalq.
Aften Posten daily reported that terrorists in this country receive money from abroad under the cover of small offices.
It seems that Norway's police, after months of following the financial sources of terrorists outside the country, found the sent money in the small offices.
According to the clues police has found, financial aids have gone to the accounts of banned groups like Mojahedin-e Khalq, al-Qaid, Taliban, PKK, Turkey and Liberation army of Kosovo (UCK).
In this regard, a Kurd, an Iraqi, an Iranian (members of MKO), an people from other nationalities like Afghan, Pakistani and Algerians have been arrested by Norway's police.
Iran's embassy had warned long time ago about the presence of MKO under the cover of NCRI in Norway and had protested to the presence of Parviz Khazaee in Norway, who is under prosecution in Iran, but the Norwegian government has not pain any attention.
Source IRNA 1/29/04
http://www.globalissues.net/photo/145
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The MKO has attracted a large number of supporters within the US congress over the years - around 150, according to full-page ads purchased in American newspapers by NCRI (which, strangely enough, has an office in Washington DC).[10] In the 1991 Persian Gulf War, US-led forces spared MKO bases (and the WMD allegedly stored in them), apparently because of the NCRI's considerable lobbying power in the US. and Europe (the EU declared the MKO a terrorist organization only last year).
Source: Middle East Intelligence Bulletin
http://www.meib.org/articles/0302_iraq.htm
4/19/2003