The Iraq/Iran axis steps up its attack on Iranian dissidents

Suffolbor

How unsurprising these developments are .

The middle east has always been that way and always will be .

It is the idiots in western goverments who beleive that putting our soldiers lives on the line and wasting taxpayers money in their futile attempts to turn these misbegotten lands into a mirror image of Europe or America that should be held to account .

None of these countries , Iraq, Afghanistan , are worth a single British life or British taxpayers money .

Our British army should only be deployed to protect our country and our people from those who would do us harm , not helping to place in power yet another nasty bastard to follow on from the one that was previously removed .

David Lindsay

Aren't you supported the removal of Saddam Hussein?

Dean

Funny thing, the War on Terror. The name of the enemy keeps changing - in 2001 it was Al Qaeda, in 2003 it was Saddam Hussein, but now Iran is the "principal terrorist threat". Is this one war, or several different wars in swift succession? And if Iran is the real threat, would it not have been more sensible to leave Saddam Hussein in power, as a regional counter-weight, given that he did not in fact possess any WMD?

It might be easier to galvanise public support for the so-called War on Terror if the neocons could actually tell us, definitively, why we're fighting and who the enemy is.

Difficult too to know who your friends are. These courageous Iranian dissidents of whom Melanie speaks so glowingly are, in many cases, fully supportive of their country's drive to obtain nuclear weapons. They want to achieve parity with Israel, just as much as the regime they oppose.

To paraphrase Churchill, to sup with the devil you need a long spoon.

Original Tony

The Allies haven't even left Iraq yet and already the evil spirit of Saddam has entered some new Iraqi leader. When will it ever change?

Toufic Sahil

So, Dean, no War On Terror, then...?

Do you feel that Iran's foreign policy is essentially benign, then, and should be left - unencumbered by Western concerns? Perhaps you feel the current Iranian regime is , at worst, a little eccentric and predisposed only to rhetoric and posturing and means no harm, really; its official policy of wanting to wipe Israel off the map and its President's Holocaust denial nothing but quaint and harmless..or justified(!!!)?

..or perhaps I have misread the tenor of your last comment?

Azzi

Great article.

The new president of Iraq is clearly a stooge of the Iranian regime and President Obama and Prime Minister Brown should be very worried.

Remind me, did we go to Iraq to bring terrorists to power? And another thing, what is actually happening in Iraq that is not being reported?????

Jalal

Ironically this takes place while in Baghdad Nouri Al-Maliki announced the launch of the new “Coalition for Government of law” to take part in the next upcoming elections, in a ceremony that was broadcast live on radio and television in Iraq!
One may ask what was this war all about? British troops killed to Free Iraq for Iran to establish Nouri Almaliki style "Government of law” for Ahmadinejad to expand in the region. I wonder why FCO is so quiet?

Laila Jazayeri

Please Melanie continue exposing the nature of the Iraqi Prime Minister who is only taking orders from Tehran regime. Nuri al-Maliki main aim is to protect the interests of Iran's ruthless regime rather than the interests of Iraqi people because he has so much in common with the mullahs in Iran and need Iran’s help to stay in power for another term. Certainly, British soldiers did not lose their lives to bring a dictator called Nuri al-Maliki who has openly gone over Iraq's own judiciary system by ignoring three Iraqi court rulings to immediately free 36 PMOI members who have done nothing wrong. Further, shame on our Foreign Secretary and the lack of slightest action by this government in protest against the brutal attack on Camp Ashraf residents who are all 'Protected Persons' under 4th Geneva Convention. The dirty policy of appeasement by British government has only helped the Iranian regime and its allies to suppress Iranian people and their Resistance movement and gave the regime time to further advance its nuclear program.
There are three people who have political refugee status from the UK among the 36 abducted by Iraqi security forces under direct order of Iraqi Prime Minister. But the destructive policy of appeasing Tehran means no action by the FCO to save the lives of these people.
I must add, only a few responsible and independent journalists such as yourself have raised the voice of 20 hunger strikers in Central London in Grosvenor Sq. Twelve of the hunger strikers are today on Day 67 of their strike and are in critical condition. Yet, the media has kept silent. I ask other journalists, where is your conscious? Where is your humanity? At least 12 British citizens are gradually slipping into coma and death in Central London. Why do you not report on this tragedy? Why this dark silence? Why do you not inform the public about the reason these people have put their lives at risk of death?
One journalist told me today’s journalism is all about celebrity and life style. What a low life!

Jason from AZ

Just another reason as to why the war in Iraq was the "wrong war."

Arash

I am no supporter of Iranian opposition but have been following the issue for some years now.

I think what has happened in Camp Ashraf, is absolutely outrageous. The lack of reaction by government on this issue is equally dubious and outrageous.

It needs no genius to calculate what danger the regime of Iran is posting to whole world.
But it is great sham that despite many failures to maintain and or change the Iranian regime behaviour by west, they still fall for tricks and obvious plane this regime has planed in order to obtain time to get nuclear capabilities yet they openly closing their eyes in bid that the impossible become true. As a very interesting Iranian expression said ‘a wiper can never give birth to dove’.
The only chance for the west to get rid of this regime and establish a peace and stability in the region is the victory of million young Iranians who have taken the street of all major cities in Iran who openly denouncing this regime calling for her down fall and crying for freedom and democracy.

For those who have not yet understood this simple equation I spell it out once again. One of the main group of the Iranian opposition who has managed to educate and organised the youth in Iran for past 30 years and has kept their hope well alive are those who have given up the conventional life style and with dedication and persistent are in camp Ashraf in Iraq. Yes in Iraq next door to Iran to be exact 60 miles away from the border. This is the very reason why they are so wanted by the Iranian regime and on their behest the Iraqi Prime Minister has order the raid on Asharf, has order the transfer of 36 who openly undermining the judiciary of the country.

Yes we must know that we are ignoring the only chance we have to have stability and peace in the region by keeping silence on the suppression of Camp residents.

Well down Mellanie , I solute you as an Iranian guy who is also like you interested in a peace and instability in the region.

Saeed

Excellent article,
All it takes for evil to flourish is for a good man to do nothing,
With your enlighten peace I hope justice prevails, many thanks

Arash

Many thanks for this enlightening article. unfortunately British soldiers' lives and taxpayers' money were wasted and as a result these criminals took power in Baghdad. is this the democracy which the US and the UK had promised to establish in Iraq. are the US and the UK blind and do not see what the Iranian regime's agents and puppets are doing to the unarmed and defenseless refugees in camp Ashraf in Iraq? Do they think that the Iranian people will forget this atrocity and the US and the UK complicity in these crimes?

Lupus Lungfish

I'm going to be presumptuous and refer to you as Melanie.
I certainly agree with you that Iran poses the principal terrorist threat to the west etc but I don't really see the point of all this blithering in print about it. If those towelheads build the bomb we'll have to deal with it when the time comes. I believe America took a wrong turn when it attacked Saddam- why bother with the side salad when the main dish etc.(could you finish that analogy for me please!). Anyway Melanie I think you'll find when push comes to shove most people on Main Street are quite willing and able to defend our friends in Israel. Although being quite drunk I must say that Israeli young males are quite aggressive when out on the trail. When travelling about a bit in the eighties I met a few Israeli boys that didn't exactly endear themselves to me or the locals. I can understand why of course, why 'love thy neighbour' when the fu----s are all trying to kill you?! I hope that kid in the news today gets out one day. Seems like a one sided trade to me, 20 prisoners for one flicker of hope.
Anyway I may take issue with you on the atmoshere thing.
Regards,
Lungfish.

Shohreh D

I am absolutely appalled to see the people in Ashraf, in particular the women, so vulnerable when they are supposed to be protected persons under the Fourth Geneva Convention. The American government and President Obama must be STUPID if they haven't yet realised that the Iranian regime isn't going to do them ANY favours by keeping quiet over the situation in Ashraf. If the last 30 years has taught the US government one thing it is that the Iranian regime will never ever cease inflicting terror at home or abroad – that is the nature of their fundamentalist rule.

Iranians will never forget how the West has washed its hands of the people of Iran. As for Obama – so soon to have so much blood on your hands!

Iradj

Dean, for one thing, no supporter of the Iranian opposition, in his/her right mind, would support the Iranian terrorist regime's efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. As a matter of fact at this time, the common interest of the Iranian people, with the Israeli, and Arab people is to get rid of this cancerous, monster in the region.

Masoud

It is interesting that it is again the Spectator that puts forward such and important news that concerns all us. As Melanie has put it "the implications of the attack on Ashraf are alarming". In other words are we getting closer to Khomeini's howl during 8 years of Iran-Iraq war "conquer Jerusalem through Baghdad"? Are Mr Obama and Mr Brown allowing this long time dream of the Ayatollahs come true? It is foolish to have allowed Iran's influence in Iraq even thus far.

In April 2003, just a few weeks after the invasion of Iraq, PMOI members in Ashraf warned the Americans about Iran's intentions and plans (Washington Post, 18 April 2003). They even gave the Americans a list of 32000 agents on Iranian security services who are working in top positions in Iraq on the payroll of Islamic Republic Ministry of Intelligence (VAVAK is the Persian acronym) in January 2006. What the Americans and the coalition partners have done with this intelligence?

Indecently the same General Odierno who is commanding multinational forces in Iraq today was the first high ranking American General who visited Ashraf and had long conversations with the leadership there and had access to the wisdom and intelligence of PMOI and one can only hope that the General has learned his lessons after so many loss of lives to Iranian mullah-made bombs.

Protection of Ashraf is not only a legal, moral and humanitarian responsibility but a sensible and strategic wisdom. Ashraf, as millions of Iraqis declared in June 2006 and then again in June 2008, is the bulwark against expansion of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism in the entire region and a barrier to its expansion worldwide.

So raise your voice British public against this bizarre scandalous silence by Obama and Clinton on the one hand and Brown and Miliband on the other.

Thank you Melanie for bringing this issue to our attention again!

Azita for a free Iran

It makes you wonder what Brown and Obama have hidden up their sleves - shame on them, especially Obama who came to power promising so much - empty promises.

Lets hope he redeeems himself, for the sake of these 36 innocent men who are on a dry hunger strike and can die at any time.

LETS HOPE OBAMA HAS SOME DECENCY!!!

Mohsen Abed

Dear Sir/Madam
Your publication of the recent developments is welcomed in the face of a defening silence by the British media.
What has the world come to? The brutal attacks by the Iraqi forces has been shown time and time again, yet no one in our goverment is doing anything about the continuous violations of human rights by the Nori Al Maleki government!!
This must be stoped and the only people who can stop it is the American and British governments.
I am still hopeful.

Regards
Mohsen

Kaveh

Bravo Melonie. Genocide has taken place in Ashraf and those who have silenced about it are complicit in these crimes. Yesterday's crime is a crime against humanity and regardless of any dispute over the status of the dissidents in Ashraf, the 36 hostages, all protected persons, armless, known innocent by 3 court hearings in Iraq and on their 67th day of hunger strike were beaten and forcefully transferred to an unknown location in a bid to extradite them to Iran! There is no justification for such an act of genocide. So I say: Shame on those who turn a blind eye on these senseless crimes by bringing up bogus and irrelevant discussions.
The people of Iran will not forget the journalists that echoed their cry for freedom and your article is indeed very appreciated from every aspect.
More power to your elbow!

Lupus

Sorry for my dumb post last night- drunk I'm afraid, apologies all round.

hippiepooter

Melanie,´'The West put in place the Maliki regime'? I thought he was elected? Ayad Allawi was put in place by the Americans, but unfortunately the Iraqis have gone with a closet Shia mullaocracy guy. I have always said Bush was far to nice about overthrowing Saddam. Our first reason for being in Iraq should always have been protecting our security, which implicitly in an Arab country means the slow nurture of democracy under our auspices. Bush was too nice, but then with the western media and half the western world led by Chirac waging a propaganda war for terrorists and tyrants because they didn't want to see Bush and the US getting any kudos for doing a good job in Iraq, Bush didn't do what was needed to protect our security and ensure a stable democracy in Iraq.

Hoda

I agree with Melanie. The attack on Ashraf and subsequent developments are shocking.

Iraq's chief prosecutor has issued a blanket order for the release of the thiry-six hostages wherever they are, but they have been transferred to Baghdad and their detention continued despite this blanket order.

What is Obama actually DOING in the White House? What on earth is the US administration actually doing??

They are letting the Iraqi government commit crimes unchallenged, killing Camp Ashraf residents who are meant to be protected and allowing Iraq to walk all over agreements they made with the US.

The US administration PROMISED and GUARANTEED safety of the PMOI... they issued orders that if any of the PMOI were in dangerm that the US should be contacted immediately for assistance that they would be legally obliged to provide.

Iranians have been diong that for over two months with ZERO response from the US (and the EU). It is disgusting, shameful and totally unacceptable.

The blood that has been shed by the Iraqi government is blood that stains Obama and his administration due to their LIES and their inaction which has allowed the massacre to take place and which is complicit in the dying and possible deaths of the 36 people. If they are assasinated and murdered, inaction from the international community will be to blame and their deaths will be caused and blamed on Obama and his administration.

Again, im going to reiterate that inaction by the US is disgusting, shameful and totally unacceptable

Thanks Melanie.

Lupus Lungfish

Azita for a free Iran- what exactly do expect from us?!-are we supposed to blunder into Iran guns blazing- we would probably kill most of your family and flatten your town. Give us your solution- its not easy is it?

Gordon Lupus Brown

This is a very interesting blog-I may come back some time- when it suits me- if there's something on BBC news that brings a tear to my eye and pulls in a few votes

Margaret Muller-Johansson

I agree with suffolbor, true, the middle east has always been that way and always will be, I don't understand why the muslims "abuse" each other so much, those people will never became democratic or friends of the west like the countries of East Europe, China, South Korea, India, and Christian African countries, please don't waste the tax payers money and the troops time, bring the troops back, we all know those muslims are not going to change

Augustus

The Daily telegraph revealed yesterday (3/10) that Ahmadinejad was in fact born a JEW, with Jewish parents who changed their name from Sabourjian soon after he was born when they converted to the Islam faith. So, not only is this man a revolutionary puppet and a tyrant, he's a traitor to his own roots as well.

Azita for a free Iran

Lupus,

I was referring to Obama and Brown doing the right thing with regards to the 36 people taken hostage. They must intervene to urge the Iraqi authorities to release them, especially as it has become apparent that they are in very real danger over the past few days.

benjamin

From Wikipedia
"Founded in 1965, the PMOI was originally devoted to armed struggle against the Shah of Iran, capitalism, and Western imperialism.[1] The group claims to have renounced violence in 2001[2] and today it is the main organization in the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an "umbrella coalition" claiming the role of a parliament-in-exile dedicated to a democratic, secular and coalition government in Iran. The group has had thousands of its members for many years in bases in Iraq, but according to the British Broadcasting Corporation "they were disarmed in the wake of the US-led invasion and are said to have adhered to a ceasefire."[3]

Considerable controversy surrounds the issues of whether the NCRI is merely a front group for the PMOI[4][5]; whether the NCRI is involved in terrorism, or if it is "a legitimate dissident organization fighting for democracy in Iran"[6] whose Western accusers are attempting to use as a bargaining chip in negotiation with its enemy the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The PMOI's armed wing is, or was, called the National Liberation Army of Iran (NLA). The Iranian government officially refers to the organization as the Monafeqin (literally, "Hypocrites"), maintaining that PMOI is not truly Islamic.[7]

The United States, Canada, Iraq, and Iran have designated the PMOI a terrorist organization.[8][9] On January 26, 2009, the Council of the European Union agreed to remove the PMOI from the EU terror list. The group said it was the outcome of a “seven-year-long legal and political battle”.

Sounds like a more complicated situation that that portrayed by Melanie and most of the people who write on this blog. They seem to be a bit lefty - Oh, my Gawd!

Donald Davidson

The PMOI was sponsored by Saddam from 1986 right up until the invasion of 2003. It is hardly surprising that the current
Iraqi government wants to be rid of them . Yes, the overthrow of Saddam has resulted in the rise of Iran as the main regional power. This is an example of the law of unintended consequences

Donald Davidson

Some further thoughts . Melanie Phillips is accusing the Iraqi government of being puppets of Iran. This is precisely what the Sunni minority in Iraq have been saying for some time - the Iraqi government is dominated by 2 Shia parties which have close links with the regime in Tehran. The Gulf states, including kuwait, largely financed Saddam in his war against Iran in order to prevent the current situation, where Iran is the main regional power, coming to pass. Perhaps melanie Phillips should reconsider her support for the Iraq war.