Ari Siletz

"Darius, what is RP's position on the MEK delisting development?

Constitutional Monarchists position and that of our sovereign Reza Shah Dovom regarding the MKO is what it has always been:

The MKO are Jomhurykhahs who wish to reform the Republic they helped create 32 years ago but by means of violence. Where as you folks wish to Reform it through Peaceful Means whilst being raped, tortured, imprisoned and killed in slow fire by the People You put to Power 32 years ago.

In Short that the Predicament of your Former Jomhurykhah Allies is of no direct concern to us ...

REPUBLICAN OFFSPRING: Massoud Rajavi at Tehran University during Presidential Campaign (1980)

We have our own naughty Offsprings to worry about :

Crown Prince Reza Slams 'Shahollahis'

Translation: Take Care of Your Own Troublesome Jomhurykhah Offsprings ! 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk5LVFs3LlQ

Or if You prefer a French Metaphor:

"A Chacun Sa Merde !" 

;0) 

"Darius, what is RP's position on the MEK delisting development?

I have actually been interested and looked to see if I can find any position taken by Mr. RP? A lack of firm position by Mr. RP will certainly greatly affect his position as a contender of future leader of Iran.

'Vahdat' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Surreal!

Thanks James D for the video contribution. The MEK is a truly frightening phenomenon.

The opposite of freedom is not dictatorship, it's cultism. Because in a dictatorship free will still exists; in fact it is precisely this free will that allows us to experience the pain of repression.

A torturer working for, say, the IRI and a dissident working againt the dictatorship each base their actions on their own sense of ethics or interests. On the other hand, cult members are mindless components of a social anomaly for whom morality or interest has no definition, much less a sense of right or wrong. Paradoxically, the human species which has the greatest potential for a conscious sense of free will is also psychologically vulnerable to surrendering the gift of human soul to the MEK, Moonism, Branch Davidians, the Manson Family... 

Darius, what is RP's position on the MEK delisting development?

Hillarious

This is fantastic, Ari. Of course, the reality isn't nearly as funny, though. It's incredibly how much support the MEK has been able to buy. (Watch this video to see what I mean.)

'Treason is a matter of dates' -Talleyrand (1780-1785)

Scene from Napoleon and Love (1974): « Treason is a matter of dates. »

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (Bio Wikipedia)

Ian Holm delivers a memorable performance as Napoleon Bonaparte when the emperor finds out his chief minister Talleyrand and underlings have been plotting against him. 

It's taken from the series Napoleon and Love (Thames TV, 1974, put onto DVD by Network).

Recommended 'Treacherous Alliances" Blogs:

PRIMARY COLORS: Reza Pahlavi and Trita Parsi Take a Stroll Down The Political Lane ;0)

THE PAST IS A FOREIGN COUNTRY: How Would You Evaluate Iran's Democracy Index in 1953 ?

Isn't Calling for the Head of State's Death usually called "Treason"?

SEPARATIST TEMPTATIONS: Don't Let It Fool You ... Treason Exists ...

Shadi Sadre's Rebuttal of Massoud Behnoud's Endorsement of IRI Constitution

;0)

Heartwrenching accounts of torture

Informative link to MEK's methods, MM

Example:

"...prisoners [MEK members wanting to quit] were taken on a daily basis for interrogations and beatings.
One method was to kick the prisoner's legs and knees repeatedly with
military boots with metal covers on the front. Another method was to put
a thick rope around the prisoner's neck and drag him on the ground.
Sometimes prisoners returned to the cell with extremely swollen necks – their head and neck as big as a pillow. "

برای همدردی با اعضاء، مریم و مسعود هم طلاق میگیرند.

"The MKO's leadership consists of the husband and wife team of Masoud and Maryam Rajavi. Their marriage in 1985 was hailed by the organization as the beginning of a permanent "ideological revolution.""   Meanwhile, See Mass Compulsory Divorce at Camp Ashraf in the following UNHCR reference:

//www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,HRW,COUNTRYREP,IRN,,45d085002,0.html

Roozbeh

"...what are we saying about ourselves as iranians if all we worry about is who US makes alliances with to pressurise Iran?"

It's not all we worry about, but US policy has enough weight to merit protest. Glad you see the primary concern and no longer seem puzzled by the "little MEK-big fuss" paradox.

I don't know either how many members MEK has in Iran, but direct contact with hundreds of Iranians of all sorts and a glance at MEK's Iran-Iraq war record convinces me that the group has little or no sympathy among the general population beyond the membership. How many Iranians on IC claim outright that they are MEK sympathizers? Even Hassan Dai denies being a member. This, to me, is another sign of very weak sympathy for the MEK by the average Iranian.

........

Ari, Good that we can talk as adults. 

I hear your concern. But I do not agree with your analogy of US de listing MKO being a throwback to 1953 coup against the Mossadegh. To start with in 1953 we had a democratic regime representing the will of majority in place in Iran, today we dont.

As far as de-listing goes, it would be neither here nor there. US would use whatever means at their disposal to interfere in Iran's affair, for US national inteterest, with or without de listing, if they decide to do so. Democracy just does not come into it. New markets for US goods, cheap labor, and oil does. Plus what are we saying about ourselves as iranians if all we worry about is who US makes alliances with to pressurise Iran? Where is our belief in the power behind 70million Iranians, where is our belief and trust in our oil workers whose mighty strike in 1978 broke the back of the previous dictator??

As far as MKO itself goes, i am against their ideological stance. I actually think they are irrelevant to majority of Young Iranians today. Yet I think including them as part of a united front of Iranians aginst the regime, so long as they agree to a basic principal of a national referundom after a period of peace and stability under a provisional government would be good. As loners they can indeed be problem. Once included, they have to either conform or leave, for good this time.... 

BTW, as far as MKO support goes in Iran, you say they have zero, I say I dont know. But  I have seen their posters and wall graffitti myself in Tehran in 2009. So they have support inside the country, albeit small, but let us not forget, obviously very dedicated and brave

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Apologies Roozbeh

Didn't realize I came across as angry (just glib). Here's a more measured reply to your question.

Ever since the post election uprising, we have been waiting to see how the US will respond to the Iranian democracy movement that emerged from it. Early hopes for a positive reaction were quickly dashed, but neither was the reaction entirely negative...until now. The impending US alliance with the MEK is not so much about the MEK--which is at the heart of your puzzlement about the fuss--but what it says about the US decision vis a vis the democracy movement in Iran. If the MEK is delisted, the US message to Iranians will be a throwback to the thinking that led to the CIA participation in the 1953 coup against Mossadegh: "the will of the Iranian people is not our concern; America will attempt to install a puppet regime in Iran."

Even though the MEK is insignificant as you correctly state, our protest is not much ado about nothing. 

Keen observation Anahid

Don't know if and how Maryam is related to the Qajars beyond the name, but certainly the indoctrination methods of MEK makes a Rajavi totalitarianism the most imaginable state of affairs if they ever come to power. Mix totalitarianism with dynastic pedigree, add a dash of the Iranian monarchistic mindset (evidenced clearly in our own IC) and the result is royal purple.

Such disturbing read, Ari jan (NY Times article)

Its amazing the type of crime this group is capable of, they make IRI prison a walk in the park.

'Vahdat' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

If that is the case Ari

the fact that her last name has Ghajar in it, should help Maryam. To me, one of the most bizzare political events in early years of revolution was Massoud Rajavi's marriage to Bani Sadr' s daughter and then the divorce. After that we saw Rajavi forcing his friend to divorce his wife so Massoud could marry her. Could this be qualified as political equivalent to TV's jumping the shark moment for Mujahedin?

Macys hires MEK to organize their parade!

My pick from your last list, Disenchanted. Buy stock in the purple balloon company.

Anahid: Does Maryam Rajavi wear royal purple? With the Shir o Khorshid business in the background, the fashion statement isn't so subtle. The Pahlavis may have a rival claimant to the Iranian throne--to be announced if and when the time is right.

#2 McDonald opens a branch is Camp Ashraf! :-)

   #1  Joe Biden Marries Michelle Obama!

   #3  Tom Ridge recommends Masoud Rajavi to head DHS!

   #4   Macys hires MEK to organize their parade!

   #5   Camp Ashraf is moved to Disney park near Paris! 

   #6   All Rajavi cult shave their mustaches and wear a tie instead!

    Here you go Ari.... Thanks for coming up with the idea. May be ICers can select a finalist 10 and publish it as a new blog!

     Lets see how witty are ICers! Perhaps a top 10 list everyday would be nice!

Ari, another sign is:

When Hillary Clinton visits Islamic regions where she has to show sensitivity and dress modest, she just goes for clothing in style of Maryam. Hillary will dress every day in a different color maantou and Rosari.

MM

And vice versa, the American Eagle is replaced with the MEK Lion and Sun.

Disenchanted, LOL!

Dang, I missed that one! And you win the bet.

Knock yourself out with more.

#2. US troops start running Afghans over with tanks instead of just shooting them.

For the reader: See Maryam Rajavi's comment about how to kill Kurds, reported in the NY Times.

I like your pic - how about as #11

And, for #12, the lion in the MKO flag has been replaced with the words "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

Good one Ari.

Ari, a good start, but :-)

      You got the right Idea but I bet I could beat you in execution :-)

       Here is one you definitely missed:

      #1 sing that MEK is being removed from terror list (Drum roll......):

       Joe Biden Marries Michelle Obama!

        As you know Maryam was the wife of the guy second in rank and at one point forced to divorce him and marry Rajavi. I got more if I get encouragement to present them!

Ari siletz:

I suggest you read my comment again, Understand it, before responding so angrily and defencively.

I started my comment by saying that "we are being told". i.e. I was quoting. That should have been clear to any reader.

Once you got over your anger, take a deep breath and try to  answer the core question:

what's all this jelez o velez  about MKO about given your own statistics (dont worry I will not question the source of your 0% or 0.2 %)! 

Until then, do not expect a response from me as I'm not intending to waste a further second of  my valuable time on another round of personal name calling and wise cracking with someone who does not seem to bother to read a comment before responding  with cheap personal insults.

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

Onlyiran

IC is a good place to gauge the mood of the diaspora. I was going to cite the MEK rally in Europe as evidence of some diaspora support, but then I saw videos of Polish youth being paid to pack the crowd by the busload. "F" for cheating!

However, if your intention is to improve Roozbeh's score, a better way is to question my "zero support inside Iran" assessment. Any thoughts?

Roozbeh: Regardless of Onlyiran's success or failure, if you got your enzebaat point back, you could pass with a 1.2 and enjoy your summer. How about rephrasing your "whore" remark? One score point the MEK has over the IRI is having women at the very top of the organization.

Ari-Is this the way you gauge political issues?

Wrong! The position of some commenters on IC indicates that the MEK has some support outside the country.

Position of IC commenters?!!!  That's supposed to be some sort of a proof?!!!! 

ای بابا، تو که ما رو مردود کردی.

ایف نوت،‌ای وود بی‌ بک این شهریور اند تالک تو یوو اگین....

Roozbeh_Gilani, your test score.

"...no more than a bunch of middle aged cultists..."

Wrong! The MEK women who set themselves on fire for Maryam Rajavi were young. The MEK women whose children are taken away to be used in welfare fraud schemes are obviously of child bearing age." (0 points)

"...with zero support amongst
Iranians inside..."

Right! (one point)

"...and outside Iran.."

Wrong! The position of some commenters on IC indicates that the MEK has some support outside the country.

(0.2 points)

"with their female leader a well known
whore."

Gauche misogynist remark.

(-1 points)

Your score: 0.2 out of 4.

Really dont understand this obsession with MKO on this site....

After all, we are being told daily that they are no more than a bunch of middle aged cultists, with zero support amongst Iranians inside and outside Iran, with their female leader a well known whore.

Right??

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."

I nominate this as one of the top 10 blogs ever on IC

Just marvelously done. The sad part is that with the exception of #3, all other points are certainly possible as US past history has proven there is no limit to its idiotic policy making and change of direction. Sossan Khanom pointed to one of those so correctly.

The picture is just icing on the cake.

'Vahdat' is the main key to victory 

Mehrdad

Of all the tyrannies that

Of all the tyrannies that affect mankind, tyranny in religion is the worst.
Thomas Paine

To say that any people are not fit for freedom, is to make poverty their choice, and to say they had rather be loaded with taxes than not.
Thomas Paine

Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true.
Thomas Paine

Thanks Ari

Funny but at the same time so truthful .....  I especially like the picture you chose ... poor statue of liberty she is shocked , embarrassed , ashamed .... you name it .. LOL

This U.S list of terrorists is a joke ... listing or delisting is even a funnier joke ...  Let us not forget that Reagan delist Saddam on 1982 and give him the green light with all the possible aids to get the dirty job done. Years later there were poor innocent American kids who got killed fighting with the monster that their own government had created ... Not even mention the innocents Iraqi civilians who got cut in the middle ...

Now it is MEK turns .... I am not surprised at all and I am not surprised of their fans on this site either .... unlike Bruce who suggested they join NIAC and vote I just want them to join camp Ashraf and fight to their sweet death .......

Each group of people gets what it deserves..  if the majority of oppositions in the west wants MEK then let them have MEK .  

To them I should  say,

" ENJOY "

PS.... Howard Dean in his opening speech in some delisting events pointed to Maryam Rajavi and said :

" look at this woman she is not a terrorist she is a president " ..... LOL 

The Divine Ten

What is with this 10 today? Is there something 'divine' going on in cyberspace? First came Fred's, second was yours, & then came Anahid's (before its deletion)? Just wondering!