Rendell and Ridge: From "Militant" Labelers to Terrorist Enablers
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A new chapter has been added to the shale gas industry's eco-terrorism, counterinsurgency and psychological operations saga.
In March, NBC News investigative reporter Michael Isikoff revealed that many prominent U.S. public officials are on the payroll of the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), a group labeled by the U.S. State Department as a terrorist organization. These U.S. officials are lobbying hard to remove the MEK from the list.
Under U.S. Supreme Court precedent, after the recent Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project decision — a controversial decision itself — it is a federal crime to provide "material support" for a designated terrorist organization. But legal niceties are apparently of nil concern to those on the dole of the MEK, a list that includes several big name political figures, according to a report written by former Bush Administration attorney and RAND Corporation analyst Jeremiah Goulka. A sample is below:
- Former Gov. Ed Rendell (D-PA)
- Former Gov. Tom Ridge (R-PA), who was also the former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush
- Former NY Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was also a Republican primary candidate for President in 2008
- Former Gov. Howard Dean (D-VT), formerly the head of the Democratic National Committee and a Democratic primary candidate for President in 2004
Many other powerful people are on the bipartisan list, as well.
Read more: Rendell and Ridge: From "Militant" Labelers to Terrorist Enablers