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Terrorism is terrorism no matter who's the target

Reader comment on item: [Mujahedeen-e Khalq:] A Terrorist U.S. Ally?

Submitted by Mike Rudwian (Canada), May 21, 2003 at 17:32

I do not find Dr. Pipes' argument in favour of working with MEK convincing for the following reasons:

1. The United States government has worked in the past with radical groups whose target of those times were not Americans. Examples are Taliban and other Afghan Mujahedin. This policy has failed clearly.

Does not Dr. Pipes agree that MEK follows a radical, totalitarian Marxist-Islamist ideology? The fact that the MEK was put on the list of terrorists actually helped and strengthened the other Iranian opposition groups who are more democratic. Any stamp of approval from the US will make the MEK stronger at the cost of the truly democratic Iranian groups who oppose the Iranian regime. There is no reason to make the same mistakes that eventually cost over 2500 American lives.

2. The list of foreign terrorist organizations include those who are engaged in terrorist activities, not just those who are merely dangers to American security. An example is the Tamil tigers organization. The fact is that MEK's involvement in terrorism is not limited to kidnapping and murder of Americans in 70s, but also acts of bombing that targeted both civilians and regime officials and murder of ordinary Iranians throughout 80s.

3. Dr. Pipes implies that the MEK is not terrorist because most of its targets are regime officials and institutions. Is there a double standard here? Does Dr. Pipes consider the attack on American marines in Beirut in 1983, the attack on Cole in 1998 or the plan to assassinate former president Bush as terrorist activities or not?

3. President Bush made it clear that terrorism is wrong and should be fought by all government across the globe. Now if the US fights his terrorist enemies, while supporting other countries' terrorist enemies, other countries will be able to do the same. That sets a dangerous, immoral precedent.

Regards
Mike Rudwian
Toronto, Canada
Submitting....

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Reader comments (39) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Finally the UK is taking the MEK off of the terrorist lists; can the USA be that far behind? [20 words]WhitneymuseDec 16, 2007 21:24116298
1MEK are not terrorists [27 words]from the heart of TehranAug 11, 2007 23:31105942
Why we should not support the MEK [553 words]Arash PertaniSep 12, 2006 12:0255689
On MEK a Muslim Organization [41 words]Ali AghaDec 11, 2005 20:0829782
1MeK; Don't worry [210 words]A SoldierJan 25, 2004 10:0013532
Hear, hear, shahin [71 words]Peter J. HerzOct 14, 2003 04:4211789
MEK-Our Ally?? [248 words]Shahin ShadmerAug 19, 2003 00:0610627
Terrorists or just a terrorist tag? [234 words]M. H. JazayeriJul 22, 2003 19:2010145
The Gullible Western Civ. [251 words]Darwin BarrettJul 6, 2003 20:219900
about MEK [226 words]Max Rose RastgaranJul 3, 2003 19:489876
The enemy of your enemy isn't necessarily your friend [115 words]Temur KhanMay 31, 2003 08:159310
Good terrorists? [27 words]Boris GurevichMay 26, 2003 11:459243
Democratic secular government [44 words]S.C.PandaMay 26, 2003 07:279242
Playing with fire? [97 words]Pat KunzMay 24, 2003 11:199219
Terrorist allies or business as usual? [123 words]R.D. CrockettMay 23, 2003 11:129204
MEK are terroriosts [38 words]moeMay 22, 2003 07:169177
TV station. [56 words]Yousef SafaMay 22, 2003 00:489172
Common Sense [81 words]Brent W. BurnetteMay 22, 2003 00:359171
future allies? [38 words]Alan SullivanMay 21, 2003 21:369169
Terrorism is terrorism no matter who's the target [307 words]Mike RudwianMay 21, 2003 17:329167
shame!! [104 words]samNov 4, 2006 09:409167
Enough machinations [187 words]endurnzMay 21, 2003 14:309165
A Terrorist U.S. Ally? [14 words]TL MillerMay 21, 2003 14:219164
This is too small a definition of terrorism. [107 words]Bill SmithMay 21, 2003 13:529163
1MEK and facts. [259 words]Yousef SafaMay 21, 2003 13:499162
MEK [39 words]MassoodMay 21, 2003 12:069161
Supporting the MEK, but at what expense? [199 words]Safa HaeriMay 21, 2003 10:559155
1The Enemy of Our Enemy is NOT Necessarily Our Friend [70 words]Kenneth StahlMay 21, 2003 10:059152
Brilliant analysis, as usual [50 words]Maryallene OtisMay 21, 2003 09:509151
Excellent [4 words]Maureen ThompsonMay 21, 2003 09:029150
Sounds like trouble [265 words]Robert KosloverMay 21, 2003 00:499148
MEK [172 words]Michael PodgoetskyMay 20, 2003 21:519145
A rose is a rose is a rose..... [78 words]Roy WeeksMay 20, 2003 20:529144
MEK: Terrorist or Legitimate Iranian Resistance [402 words]Shahin MohammadiMay 20, 2003 20:199142
Monopoly on the use of violence [93 words]Marc BaronMay 20, 2003 20:099141
A Terriorist U.S. Ally [84 words]JeanMay 20, 2003 19:499140
MEK, friend or foe? [178 words]David WigotskiMay 20, 2003 18:449139
On MEK [239 words]Ali JMay 20, 2003 13:119134
Thank you [18 words]Dan GurtaMay 20, 2003 11:069131

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