Burning themselves to death? Damn terrorists heathens! Animals, each and every one! Or, to quote one of my contributors, “…self-immolation, or as I like to call it, Darwinism in action…” Let me remind you, Jesus Christ also reportedly committed suicide because of his belief in something. Under the State Department’s definition of terrorism, then isn’t all of Christianity fundamentally a terrorist group? Israel certainly thought so at the time and King Herod adopted a rather brutal “zero-tolerance” policy and simply killed the first born males of the lot of them in hopes of nabbing Jesus and stopping the whole mess from happening.
Watch how quickly you judge a situation because of its appearance. Since most of you won’t bother, allow me to illuminate you as to who these “nutjobs” really are.
Who are the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq? How soon we forget or, how easy is it to forget these groups, especially when some political groups want you to forget them. Let me refresh your memories. Don’t confuse them with the Afghan Mujahideen, that is a whole other chapter in history. The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq or, the People?s Mujahedeen Organization of Iran, or the MEK, are currently the largest group of militant protestors against the Islamic fundamentalist regime in Iran, you know Ayatollah Khomeini type of fundamentalist? The MEK have a very large network of sympathizers. Their opposition to the current Iranian fundamentalist, cleric-run government makes them somewhat popular amongst the Bush Bunch. Those fundamentalist clerics are the same gang of great guys who captured our citizens, in case you’ve forgotten.
The Mujahedeen had strong allies in Iraq and Saddam was indeed a close friend. Providing weapons, bases of operation and financial assistance to them against their common enemy, the Iranian fundamentalists. Prior to that, the MEK assisted the revolution to usurp the despised Iranian Shah and helped to drive him into exile. However, once the fundamentalists got into power, they rejected the Mujahedeen as their doctrine was too Marxist or, perhaps they didn’t oppress women enough for them, since they are led by a woman, Maryam Rajavi.
Yes, the MEP recently has appeared on the U.S. terrorist list, placed there last year, no one is really in agreement about why they are on it. However, if you look at that list you’ll find the Kurdistan Workers? Party or, the PKK. The same group that fought along side U.S. troops in Iraq. In March 2002, Iran agreed to label the PKK as a terrorist organization. In exchange, “democratic” Turkey said it would consider Mujahedeen-e-Khalq a terrorist organization. Very strange and difficult behavior indeed… very hard to explain. In fact, the lack of consistency from the US State Department on the MEK is astonishing. Last year (Oct? Nov?), over 150 Republicans and Democrats House demanded that the MEK be taken off the list of terrorist organizations. Many on within the beltway view them as a legitimate group determined to promote democracy. In Iraq, our own military reached a disarmament and consolidation agreement with the MEK and even considers them allies much the same as we did the PKK who also fought alongside us in the northern Iraq, much to the chagrin of the Turks.
The French are saying that the MEK has become “a significant terrorist risk” in Europe because we blew the living daylights out of several of their bases in Iraq. Which to anyone who can assemble the story accurately as can be done, would appear as complete and utter nonsense. The MEK spokesmen say that the French arrest and “crackdown” was preposterous and that no terrorist activity is being planned or, was planned for the many years they’ve resided in their host country in France. They claim that France is trying to curry favor among the Iranian government whom have demanded that other countries “crack down” on the MEK. Recently, Syria, who also harbored MEK members arrested MEK leaders the shipped them off to Teheran.
So, before you judge another group of “nutjobs” and label them as “terrorist” do your research and thank your Christian god for sacrificing his only son for the “good of the revolution.” So, far it has worked out pretty good. Just ask Bush and Ashcroft… but, don’t ask the Iranian clerics or, Osama Bin Laden. I doubt they’d agree.