Perle Meets with terrorist group MEK . takes money for fundraising speach

[ElsewheresDaughter]

What the fuck is Perle cooking up?
Perle is pleading ignorance "i didn't know they were on the US list of KNOWN TERRORIST GROUPS"

this is an Iranian article about it...i am still looking for a US article on the matter

http://www.salaam.co.uk/news/displaynews.php?news_id=220095

Wednesday 28th January 2004
summary:
His name is Richard Perle, and he's one of the leading and certainly one of the most visible neoconservatives in Washington, D.C., whose combative style and clear contempt for his opponents has earned him the sobriquet "Prince of Darkness." He is also appears to be a supporter of terrorism. Why else would he have agreed to speak at a January 24 fundraiser, billed as "A Night of Solidarity," supposedly to raise money for Iranian earthquake victims – an event sponsored by groups associated with the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization?

<snip>

Why else would he have agreed to speak at a January 24 fundraiser, billed as "A Night of Solidarity," supposedly to raise money for Iranian earthquake victims – an event sponsored by groups that have links to the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), listed by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization?

MEK is a formerly Marxist group with odd, cultic overtones. Led by Maryam Rajavi, the self-proclaimed "President Elect" of Iran, and her husband, Massoud, head of the group's military wing, they originally supported Khomeini when he overthrew the Shah, and carried out terroristic attacks on Americans, only to turn against the regime.

MEK took up residence in Iraq, where they were given sanctuary and armed by Saddam Hussein. They fought against their own country – on the Iraqi side – during the long Iran-Iraq war. During the U.S. invasion of Iraq, MEK carried out military operations in defense of the Ba'athist regime, and its main base came under attack by U.S. forces. MEK agreed to capitulate, but there was some question about to what extent they disarmed. Even today their main force remains intact.


Their fate has become a political football, pitting the U.S. State Department against the neoconservatives in Washington who now have Iran fixed in their sights. The neocons are pushing the idea that we can use the MEK to overthrow the Iranian regime: this is the same group that tried to ingratiate itself with the Bush administration by sharing "intelligence" that supposedly pointed to Iran's intention of developing a nuclear weapons program

more...


WHEN WILL WE EVER LEARN ...that using monsters and making them bigger will ALWAYS come back and bite us in the ASS?...k

sometimes "the enemy of my enemy"...is just that THE FUCKING ENEMY!!!

[Jose Diablo]

1. Another 9-11? n/t

[gulfcoastliberal]

2. Isn't Grover Norquist

Also associating with shady terrorist groups? WHat is with these evil creeps?

[xray s]

3. Here is a Wsahington Post piece

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58296-2004Jan28.html

Also, Josh Marshall discussed this yesterday;

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. wow thanks

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Where's Ashcroft? Isn't association with terraists against the...

Patriot Act?

[Aidoneus]

8. hell, Ashcroft supports them too

Some explanation is apparently in order as to the working definitions of certain terms and how they apply.

The "terrorists" are just the "non-us" in any equation.

Since they see eye to eye with the MKO, the "terrorists" propaganda term doesn't apply.

They were "terrorists" when they were for revolutionary anti-imperialism, class struggle in Iran, support for the revolution that deposed the fascist American dicator, and for an independent economy for Iran...
...but those awful days are behind them, and they have shed all of these heresies. Like good "moderates", they're for the "free-market economy" (subordination of national economics to Western business interests), "democratic reforms" (installing pro-west puppets), etc etc etc..

Now people like John Ashcroft, Daniel Pipes, the AEI, etc etc etc are big fans of the group and want to make use of them. While these figures are naturally hypocrites and charlatans, there is no hypocrisy or deviation in their principles at work here. The MKO are in a position to benefit US imperialism, thus are of course not "terrorists", as if the propaganda term has any meaning whatsoever.

[Aidoneus]

9. kick

:kick:

[G_j]

6. 'like' seeks 'like' n/t

[BeFree]

7. Kick n/t