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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iran rebels say US-led coalition has granted them protected status in Iraq |
| 2004-07-26 |
Sun Jul 25, 3:52 PM ET PARIS (AFP) - Iran's main armed opposition group said that the US-led coalition had granted its militants in Iraq protected status, despite its listing as a terrorist organization by both Washington and its key allies. The National Council of Resistance of Iran said it had received notification from coalition commanders that People's Mujahedeen fighters who have been confined to camp in Iraq since last year's US-led invasion had been accorded recognition as protected non-combattants under the fourth Geneva Convention. "It is a very significant step because the Iranian regime has been demanding for the past year the People's Mujahedeen be handed back, which would obviously put their lives in danger," said Farid Sulimani, a member of the foreign affairs committee of the Mujahedeen-dominated National Council. Iran has been pushing for Several thousand Mujahedeen militiamen were disarmed by US forces following the fall of president Saddam Hussein's regime in April 2003 and barred from undertaking military operations. Their fate has been a prickly question for Washington as it prosecutes its worldwide war on terror, since the group is listed as a terrorist organization by both the US State Department and the European Union. The National Council statement said that the coalition had undertaken to provide continued protection for the Mujahedeen fighters at Camp Ashraf. While recognition as protected individuals removes controls on the fighters' movement, potentially allowing them to emigrate to third countries, Sulimani said all were likely to stay as they wanted to remain close |
| Posted by:Zenster |
| #4 Zen, I still don't understand why the Swedes gave a bunch of these guys citizenship. Maybe Sweden has a tougher policy with respect to Iran than ours, - doesn't sound likely - but one of the beauties of the Iraqi soveriegnity is that we are no longer faced with Hobson's choice with respect to these mujahedeen. For a little light reading, I'm rolling trough the Sentate Select Committee's Report on Arms Trafficking into Bosnia - its and oldie, but a goodie. Lake, and a bunch of others that testified before the 9/11 Commission were also involved then. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-27 12:42:59 AM |
| #3 3. "The enemy of my enemy.." was blown out of the water when the Taliban proved to be some pretty bad actors. Thank you, Super Hose, for snagging that one out of the stream before it slid by. You are so right. No matter how old that Arabic saying is supposed to be, fraternizing with the One trustworthy friendship outweighs a boatload of temporary alliances with those you have adequate reason to distrust. SH, I also thank you for calling into question premises within the actual article itself. It's what I come to Rantburg for and always appreciate about this place. What do you see as any sort of potential resolution in this? Although even America's own low-level policies are not cut in stone, reversing our declaration of the People’s Mujahedeen as a terrorist organization would represent a significant contradiction of the "yer fer or agin us" doctrine. I want Iran overthrown ASAP. Preferrably without massive radiological contamination of their countryside from bombing nuclear R&D sites. I don't think dubious alliances are the way to do it. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2004-07-26 10:37:30 PM |
| #2 The announcement is questionable on several levels: 1. The Coalition is no longer soveriegn and can't officially protect squat. 2. The Coalition would certainly not leave it to the loonies to announce their own protected status. 3. "The enemy of my enemy.." was blown out of the water when the Taliban proved to be some pretty bad actors. It would be best if we let Iran be free with these clown sitting on the sidelines so that they don't have any claim on post-mullah power. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-07-26 10:05:15 PM |
| #1 If true, I can live with this. "The enemy of my enemy....." |
| Posted by: Wuzzalib 2004-07-26 9:54:01 PM |