IRAN: NUCLEAR: MEK , Ahmadinejad owes a thank you to Richard Engel and Robert Windrem at MSNBC

The Mujaheden e khalq , who were founded 45 years ago and got their name off of a constitutional revolution that had occurred nearly 100 years ago in Iran against British colonialism or the MEK (as known in the US or PMOI as known in Europe are the only living and active opposition force that has withstood: 1988 genocide or massacre; continuous purges in the Universities, tagging and religious fatwas which have named them and their families to be "Moharaebe" anti-god by the religious clerics are a member of the NCRI. But as the NCRI is a political coalition of various individuals and groups, it cannot be the MEK as well.

MEK is actually the movement that is clandestine in Iran (obviously such open suppression leaves no room for protests...or open activity) and are the only "organized" movement. This means, they are a resistance, the same as the French resistance or Italian resistance during the time of Vichey and Hitler. They are a natural result of a youth movement that started in the Universities 45 years ago and were very popular during the 1978-80 revolution that ousted the Shah and was usurped and diverted by the mullahs. (This part itself needs a detail account of the plots that derailed the whole uprising and lead to the power of the Ayatollahs)

They are one of the members of the NCRI , which is composed of individuals and political groups that have different , and sometimes diverging opinions. they all have united on one bases : Democratic change in Iran, and helping to provide a 6 month transitional period during which a constitutional assembly be chosen by the people and free elections are provided for them to chose the system of the new born nation. After this the NCRI is dismantled and has not existence. The MEK is also, like others to take part in the elections using their democratic rights.

This is in brief an outline of the two.

About the listing:

MEK has been used as a carrot so to speak by the Europeans and the US in order to confront the ear they had of the unreliable and rather chaotic regime in Iran. Since the movements’ eradication is vital for the regime in Iran, they have been a bargaining chip on the table for the past 2 decades. The EU however in a 7 year legal battle waged by MEK lawyers lost to the group in 7 high EU courts, and the bid agreed between the Jack Straw was considered to be illegal by the courts which announced that there was no tread of evidence suggesting that this resistance movement is a "terrorist" one. As the result all EU countries that were trying to prevent the delisting had no choice either than to deproscirbe the group in 2009.

The US however at the time of Clinton, had invested to keep its troops safe in Iraq and Afghanistan and keep the MEK in the list. This policy has been argued by many right now.

The Iranian regime has been extremely active in its propaganda to smear the MEK in the press and through its pundits who have been proved to work at high places right now, as well as those who are covert companies and NGOs and policy makers.. Groups and people such as Trita Parsi have been known and hated for being hand in hand with the Iranian intelligence, among Iranians in Iran and abroad but they have managed to, through active public relation and "agreements" take a grip of quite a few social arenas. Some , you may not believe.

As far as the US listing is concerned:

The DC Federal Appeals Court ruled on July 2010 that there were no credible evidence on this listing and all of the documents provided by the State Department had been heresy and uncorroborated. It said their sources were unknown or suspect and some were in and of themselves implausible. Thus, the court ordered the State Department to review this listing. More than 100 members of Congress, including Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, in a rare bipartisan initiative called for revoking of the listing. Dozens of the most senior national security officials of the past four administrations have joined this campaign.

Contrary to the claim of the article, this rare consensus, as has been stipulated by the most senior national security officials of the past four administrations, is because there exists no evidence and document connecting the MEK with terrorism and the US government has not been able to provide even a single document to this effect

The DC Federal Appeals Court ruled on July 2010 that there were no credible evidence on this listing and all of the documents provided by the State Department had been heresy and uncorroborated. It said their sources were unknown or suspect and some were in and of themselves implausible. Thus, the court ordered the State Department to review this listing. More than 100 members of Congress, including Representative Mike Rogers (R-MI), Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, in a rare bipartisan initiative called for revoking of the listing. Dozens of the most senior national security officials of the past four administrations have joined this campaign.

Contrary to the claim of the article, this rare consensus, as has been stipulated by the most senior national security officials of the past four administrations, is because there exists no evidence and document connecting the MEK with terrorism and the US government has not been able to provide even a single document to this effect

I hope I have been helpful:

Most of my sources are in Farsi, but do tell nem if you need any other sources.

Thank you stanley

I assure you that many mis understand the regime in Iran. many do not even know the nature of the clerics. As I said, one who is hurt can best talk of the pain than one who has studied pain from afar.

I believe you may be right about the capacity of this regime, but please do not forget that we cannot see the regime in its entirety separately from what it is problemsright now and the opposition it is facing. The importance of existence of an opposition right now will be more clear , when we see all the combining elements that compose the actual situation right now together and not separately.

I like to drow your attention to the following article by Safavi :

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stern warning last week against the international community, which imposed sanctions last month targeting the regime's vital oil exports and central bank.

Immediately afterward, the regime launched new military exercises, threatening once again to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant amount of global oil shipments pass each day.

In his remarks, Khamenei vowed to continue with the regime's nuclear program even as broadened sanctions are beginning to inflict major economic pain.

"Iran will not give up," he said, adding, "We will respond to threats of war and oil sanctions."

Two days later, the deputy head of the regime's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps issued another threat to regional countries, warning, "Any spot used by the enemy for hostile operations against Iran will be subjected to retaliatory aggression by our armed forces."

Tehran's bellicose posture should be taken seriously. But, underneath its belligerence and periodic war games, the regime is hurting. Oil exports, accounting for roughly 80 percent of state revenues, are gradually drying up and the national currency has reportedly lost about 60 percent of its value against the U.S. dollar over the past six months.

Deep fractures and unbridled infighting within the regime are becoming commonplace. And social discontent, already at critical levels, is sounding alarm bells in Tehran's ruling circles just weeks before a parliamentary election.

Khamenei is desperate to consolidate. On Friday, he urged the "losers" of the upcoming elections to "surrender" to the results and avoid protesting. He knows the regime is vulnerable.

He was clearly trying to obfuscate a chaotic situation permeating the highest levels of his crippling regime, not to mention his deep trepidation over renewed social protests in the context of the Arab Spring.

Tehran's rulers aren't taking lightly the fact that their long-time ally in Syria is on the verge of demise. A completely different regional make up, disrupting the regime's well-established routes to supply terrorist outlets, is undermining Tehran's strategic depth.

Faced with strategic and concrete losses on all fronts, Khamenei is seen as trying to blackmail the international community by upping the ante in the hopes of reopening divisions in the united international front against his unremitting dash toward the bomb.

If that is in fact the regime's ultimate calculation, it should be proven wrong. The only way to strengthen the unity of the international front is to close all loopholes in the sanctions regime that may provide even the most insignificant of lifelines to a desperate theocracy on the brink of collapse.

The international community must stand firm and relentless in its attempts to curb a major global threat emanating from Tehran. Clearly, without a fundamental transformation in the state structure of Iran, Tehran's threats will continue to grow.

The regime knows that it is domestically doomed and the only way to survive is to push ahead with the nuclear program, continue its crackdown at home, reflected in 69 hangings so far this year, 16 of them in public, and spread its terrorism. Its military budget for the Iranian calendar year beginning in March, despite all the sanctions, has been increased by at least 127 percent. That isn't the type of decision by a regime that is willing to compromise.

Khamenei is whistling past the graveyard. The world must not give in to the regime's blackmail tactics. Not another moment can be lost to dithering and procrastinating while the regime inches toward the bomb.

Sanctions must be placed into a new paradigm of change of the regime instead of the old and unfruitful paradigm of change of behavior. In that spirit, the world must stand with the Iranian people and their organized opposition movement.

Dear karen,

Thanks for spending some time here..

About the BS you are referring in the article and "war"

Unlike the impression you may have got , I am a peace activist , have always been. But the subject is not Israel nor war, it is as I said : manipulating anti war feelings, to get expressions and reactions such as yours and preventing the reader from reading the message:

We: the Iranian people: have the right to speak about the situation without having others sketch our words for us: The regime in Iran does not represent the voices of the Iranian people. It is illegitimate, and therefor cannot be relied on. On the other hand the people have said a number of times, they want change!! like other nations have wanted in the middle East. The problem is not with the resistance movement or War.. the problem lies where there are more cowards shaping our future in Iran than brave ones.

being brave is to first acknowledge that this regime is a butcher.. then admit that the people have been protesting with a high cost of blood in 2009 and later, but instead the same policy makers in various places have put a lid on their message in order to appease the same butchers... Does this sound familiar perhaps? You may have heard the same happening in past history... plots..shutting of eyes... bloodshed by the tyrants and the shaking of hands of politicians?? Well it is not new. It may be BS for you my dear but for millions it is a matter of life and death.

The article has a clear message to those who have hte profession (journalism) that can mnake a difirence: paly on the part of the people and do not propagate the tyrants means.

Do not make decisions for the people who are already trying to stay alive under the butchers in Iran. I am speaking of the millions and not the high class elites who share interests in the present regime.

I hope I have been clear. Thank you for being here.

Dear stanley

even I, with many years of confrontation in various arenas come short of understanding the deception, manipulative tactics and butchery used by this regime. I think it may take a generation to , later tell the world of the crimes invented and committed by this regime;

one example ;

EYE WITNESS testimony:

Khomeini issued a fatwa that would allow butchers in prison, drain the blood of the prisoners that were tagged to be affiliated with the MEK before they were killed to sell outside the prison or give to the 'war fronts'.

Another fatwa issued by Khomeini and implemented by Rafsanjani was to allow rape of any MEk girls so that they could not entire "paradise" since they would not be virgins.

Obviously this only encouraged hore houses that were built by the so called revolutionary guards, which now make the elites and entrepreneurs of Iran.

there are more to be said.. but may be in the future.!

some believe in the MEK to be able to bring Justice for those who have witnesses injustice while they are still alive. This, depends on how each individual feels responsibility to stand for the truth and stop those who deny a nation the right to resist. We shall have to see.

Dear backroad

Thank you for being as you are.

I do hope that many would pride themselves for the values we try to safeguard rather than cave into short term interests.

I am putting up an article I read in the Newyork Post on the same subject but a completely different aspect!!

Look at how people see one issue so differently.

I suppose I have the old style and very much believe on values such as "fighting for freedom" and respecting those who are doing so instead of knifing them in the back to help butchers kill us in a later future.

Thanks again.

Dear Rob

I do apologise for the standard of the article that has not satisfied your needs.

About the war issue. No.

It is absolutely not signaling to go to war.

Please allow me to say that : if one is against the ayatollahs, even now, it does not mean one is pro war. I support a third option, which has been voiced by the Iranian people in their 2009 brave uprising but never heard by the US president and any other analyst, " change of regime" and therefore the cause of all this "war" issue.

I am very much a type that talks out of practice. Since I myself have experienced prison under this regime and know very much what the people on the streets talk and how they feel and what they think of.

I do thank you for your time.

Thank you tt16

I believe we have the same values. I do agree and wish to add some points if you do not mind:

Yes: We should try to distinguish "Iran" and its people form the medieval religious fascism that has monopolized power due to special circumstances that involve exactly Iran's natural and geopolitical importance for the rest of the "Powers".

This has been a repetitious challenge for the Iranians who do wish to evolve like any other nation into a peaceful, democratic nation that does follow progress and science. The nation has experienced 100 years of resistance movements that have risen in various times trying to bring freedom for the people, tagged by the rulers and tracked out by foreign powers in "good will gestures" to the rulers of the country..and yet when killed , destroyed ; a new force gets to start again.. they seem to not give up!

About Sicene and civilization and Iran: I am sure you know that Alchohol and much of basic chemisry was spotted by "Razi" an acnient Iranian aclchemist.. and many more..

But what I was referring to in defending the right to resist to gain Freedom from such a medieval regime has no boundaries and is not restricted within fronts. It is a natural god given right to be "free" and live Freely. something that is being denied to many people including that if Iran.

In this situation, many people such as You and I, who understand and have the knowledge to do so, can each be effective in our own ways.

I am sure you believe in your own values and what you stand for as do many others in Newsvine, but to put it into effect in such a way as to help speed "saving lives" is a collective effort and the support which those "nations" searching for Freedom need right now.

It will possibly involve some sacrifice on our behalf. for example, for what ever reason our two colleagues in MSNBC have somehow muddies water to cover the tracks of the Clerical butchers, what they have done does not wipe out the tragic effects it will have on many of MEK families who are practically under torture each passing day in Iran because they are tagged as "terrorists" by the US and because they are tagged by a fatwa as "ANTIGOD" and when many of their members are now being helped to stay alive under the possible violent annihilation of Iraqi forces and at the behest of the Iranian regime in Iraq.... and many other delicate and humanitarian issues...

Well to tell you frankly such an article is a stab in the back of a toured and maimed resistance fighter who is trying to be resolved to stay alive while under siege!

This is my main concern and I wanted to share it with all my friends here in newsvine.

I call on all who do share my concern over "values" as writers, to at least watch out for the next trap set by the regime in Iran , rather than walk into it the next time.

I do thank you very much.

Thank you tt16

The agenda for freedom in a rational and ethical manner brings more than sentiments. Obviously you are right, me and my involvement (as was my husbands' goal to bring change with less bloodshed if possible bearing in mind the atrocities this regime is capable of) does upset me to some extend, but those global powers are not acting rationally right now. Since they are practically backing the butchers in Iran by using the only viable and existing resistance as a carrot in a one sided deal; to speak to a violent regime that has proved in the past 34 years not to be rational but only bloodthirsty and deceptive .

Can there be apples growing on an orange tree? is it possible to expect a dove to be born of a Python? These questions might be irrational but in essence they are scientific and have reasonable answers because science has proved it to be right: NO.

But when it is said that this regime is a medieval one, has a definite agenda which cannot involve any "engagement" and cannot be moderated or appeased and its charchter cannot be changed so to leave a possibility for it to share goodness with the world around it;the same powers neglected till it is too late. If this were possible, be asured that the present resistance movement has tried it out in numerous occasions only to prevent bloodshed. But all efforts were futile till 1981 when the regime made its final deed to eradicate any one or thought that is "deviating" from the Supreme Leader. That lead to a fatwa that killed more than 120 000 boys,girls,men and women from all ages: famillies and children were wiped out with only onw question : Do you stand with the Mujahedeen (the resistance). If the answer was yes they's be hanged within a few minitues...(eyewitnesses are still alive in Camp Ashraf and trying to get out before a massacre)

About a golbal issue :

The answer is not War obviously, but is regime change. This can be Left to the Resistance to be dealt with and is not expected of the powers at all. What IS expected is for them to leave the Resistance alone, not tag it, drag it , outlaw it illegally in order to please the butchers for more days in exchange for incentives which have never worked till now.. and not to instigate Iran's pen thugs to buy time for the regime by muddying waters and derailing attention from a Humanitarian crisis involving a massacre to occur (for the opposition) to the opposition being "spies and terrorists".

This is where our roles are important.

I do appreciate your understanding, but to be part of a quest and pay a price dearly is a little bit different than to understand it. Of course it is always appreciated to have those who part with their consicnence with the good cause.

I have always adored those who stood with the resistance and were not necessarily of that culture or nation. We have quite a few in our past, of noble men and women who were from outer countries and yet found the resistance to be so pure at heat and resolved in their quest, that they too helped along till they were martyred; or others that are still helping with all their might and those who are enlightening others at a cost , wince it will be difficult to swim against the current always.