Welcome to DC: Iranian Liberator or Leftist Terrorist Organization?
On April 11, 2013 the National Council of Resistance of Iran celebrated the opening of its Washington D.C. office. U.S. officials such as President Obama’s Former National Security Advisor, General James Jones partook in the celebration declaring it an “important event” and a “step in the right direction”. The Mujahedin-e Klalq Organization, otherwise known as MEK scored a major coup with the acquisition of the newly opened office, very near the White House.
The organization’s purpose is to overthrow the Islamist Republic of Iran, and to replace it with a secular, democratic government that supposedly recognizes gender equality and free market principles. Remove Ahmadinejad and give oppressed women an equal voice, sounds great, doesn’t it? Well, before you jump for joy, there is a very dark side to the movement that you should realize.
The National Council of Resistance of Iran is an umbrella coalition of MEK. The MEK was branded as terrorist organization in 1997, and was listed as such with the U.S. State Department. The goal of the far left group—previously named Islamic Marxist—is to create a secular society with economic and social equality. They sought to attain their goals through vicious attacks, many on Americans. The militant group wanted to eradicate capitalism and Western imperialism.
Among the short list of alleged attacks are:
Opposition to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi resulted in bombings and failed hijackings.
A failed attempt to kidnap the U.S Ambassador to Iran, Douglas MacArthur II.
Assassination attempt on USAF Brig General Harold Prince.
Murders of Lt. Col. Louis Lee Hawkins, USAF Col. Paul Shaffer and Col. Jack Turner.
In 2009 the Council of the European Union lifted the terrorist title, and in December 2012, then-U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton also lifted the terrorist title.
In 2001, NCRI renounced the violence that was so prominent in it’s beginnings.
Clearly, I believe almost everyone would like to see an end to the current regime in Iran. Is celebrating a far left group with a violent past that included attacks on Americans appropriate? No, I think this is absolutely the wrong message to send abroad and to us at home. This is choosing between two evils. There are some conservatives that look favorably on NCRI; I am not one of them.
My question to Washington D.C. is why is a self-proclaimed Marxist group welcome so near the White House?
