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Dean for the MEK - Ben Smith: Dean for the MEK

April 08, 2011
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Dean for the MEK

Former Governor, Iraq war foe, and DNC Chairman Howard Dean has emerged, a bit improbably, as a leading international spokesman for the MEK, an Iranian opposition group based in Iraq and viewed by some as a cult, which is currently on the State Department's list of outlawed terror groups.

He has a cameo in this Guardian story today about the Iraqi raid on the MEK's base:

"Ashraf is part of a government-in-exile which is headed by Madame Maryam Rajavi. We should recognise the government-in-exile headed by Madame Rajavi," said Howard Dean, the former Democratic presidential candidate. "It is an outrage that the MEK remains on the terrorist list in the US. There is no legitimacy in this."

He also, I notice, gave a rousing speech on the topic last month, telling a cheering crowd, "We put Maliki in and he ought to respect the human rights in the American constitution":

Posted by Ben Smith 10:31 AM

Reader Comments (5)

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  1. QUESTION OF THE DAY; Is Howard Dean still legally allowed to write prescriptions.? The reason I am asking is that I would sure like to know what drugs he is taking, must be some really powerful little pills.

    Posted By: LOU FROM N.Y.C. | April 08, 2011 at 10:48 AM
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  2. Most, if not all, of the MEK’s most prominent supporters are paid handsomely for their efforts. http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/ex-officials_say_they_were_paid_to_attend_pro-mek_events.php Here are a few more facts about the MEK everyone should know: Iran’s opposition Green Movement rejects the MEK: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/03/26/iran_green_movement/index.html The MEK has no support in Iran. http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/24/washingtons_dangerous_and_deluded_support_for_the_mek The MEK is a cult. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/magazine/13MUJAHADEEN.html The MEK received most of its financial support and all its material support from Saddam Hussein until 2003. http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2009/140900.htm The MEK support Saddam by aiding his deadly crackdown against the Kurds and Shia. Maryam Rajavi, the MEK’s leader, even instructed her followers to “take the Kurds under your tanks.” http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/13/magazine/13MUJAHADEEN.html The MEK strongly supported the takeover of the US Embassy in 1979, advocated for the US hostages to be tried and executed, and even opposed their eventual release. http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/1993_cr/h930929-terror-pmoi.htm The MEK wasn’t added to the Foreign Terrorist Organization List as a Goodwill Gesture to Iran. It’s been on the list since it was first created in 1997, and was listed in the Patterns on Global Terrorism for years prior to that. http://www.state.gov/www/global/terrorism/annual_reports.html The Bush administration determined in 2007 that “MEK leadership and members across the world maintain the capacity and will to commit terrorist acts in Europe, the Middle East, the United States, Canada, and beyond.” http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2006/82738.htm The MEK commits human rights abuses against its own members, and even tortured two dissident members to death. http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain?page=printdoc&docid=45d085002 American credibility and goodwill among the Iranian people would be destroyed if the US supported the MEK.

    Posted By: Yeah, because MEK is paying him | April 08, 2011 at 12:25 PM
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  3. I agree with Gov. Dean, Anywhere human rights are abused like Iran, It is every body’s responsibility to raise voices. I do have a lot of respect for Gov. Dean for doing that.

    Posted By: Ross | April 08, 2011 at 02:51 PM
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  4. I wonder where a group that is: 1) Designated as a terrorist organization is the U.S., Canada & Australia, among other countries; 2) Has been described by internationally-renowned human rights and research organizations such as HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH and RAND as a cult that abuses its own members and prevents them from leaving the MEK compound in Iraq -- and most of them indeed want to leave, but fear of retribution; 3) Enjoys ZERO support inside Iran because of their allegiance to SADDAM HUSSEIN; gets money to pay prominent speakers such as Howard Dean, who often charge speaker fees that run in the six digits (over $100,000) per appearance? My guess: Israel For more information, see: http://www.hrw.org/legacy/backgrounder/mena/iran0505/index.htm http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG871.html

    Posted By: Money Talks | April 08, 2011 at 05:08 PM
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  5. Is Israel funding Hizbollah too? Because they also fit all your criteria.

    Posted By: Danny | April 08, 2011 at 05:53 PM
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