The analyses concerning the US-Iran upcoming negotiations in Iraq in an attempt to find solutions to stabilize the country unanimously conclude that expulsion of Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) from Iraq and a demand to stop the US’s protection of the group will be on the table. The idea conjures at a time when Americans insist to accuse Iran of advocating Iraqi insurgents and escalating disorder in Iraq and believe that a total uproot of terrorism is the decisive solution to end disorder in Iraq. Regardless of Iranians’ rejecting of giving any aid to insurgents, to be optimistic, a decisive decision about MKO in itself helps to restore peace and order to Iraq.
Indeed, the US has to shift its paradoxically dual position in dealing with MKO which has nothing to do with the two sides’ supposed interests. If the US has concluded that Iraq’s problems can partly be solved on condition the terrorism is uprooted, then, before anything, what Americans can best do is to take a clear position in dealing with a terrorist group that occupies a long-existing position on the State Department’s terror list as well as other European countries.
The US protection of MKO at the present implies that the US follows a double-standard policy in confronting terrorism. It is hard to believe that MKO are encompassed within Camp Ashraf and play ineffective role in Iraqi domestic tensions. Although the group’s stay in Iraq is tried to be justified according to international conventions, its approach in position takings against the Iraqi government and provoking the dissident insurgents are in no way a permitted right. The US has to assert that MKO, besides other pressing insurgents, take the best advantage of the persisting disorder in Iraq. Advertising to be political refugees, MKO‘s nearly two-decade past history of residence in Iraq and its close collaboration with Saddam and Ba’ath Party well indicate that it is not a legal demand incorporated in the framework of international conventions.
Nonobservance to drag MKO’s activities in Iraq into the process, including collaboration to suppress insurgencies against Saddam, has emboldened the group to demand rights even far beyond the political asylum. Even more, the US control and protection has further granted MKO a dear opportunity to impede restoration of order to Iraq and to undermine establishment of collective confidence in any negotiation. It does not necessarily mean that MKO is of any weight to influence the regional relations, but indeed it is the US Achilles’ heel in its declared war on terrorism, that is to say, MKO in Iraq symbolize the protected terrorism.
Surrounded by much ambiguous an atmosphere as how to deal with the issue of MKO, the upcoming talks between the US-Iran will decisively resolve a comprehensive agreement on war against terrorism in Iraq specifically and in the region in general. Supposing that Iran never touches the issue of MKO in its talks, no doubt, any decision concerning restoration of tranquility and peace in Iraq will inevitably decides the presence of MKO in Iraq.
May 26, 2004