NCRI – A number of senior US former officials from the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations attended a conference in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, January 20, 2011, and discussed the Iranian regime’s nuclear program, terrorism and human rights violations. Speakers notably called for the removal of the main Iranian opposition People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) from the US list of terrorist organizations.
Pointing to the failure of the Washington’s engagement policy towards the religious tyranny in Iran, speakers spoke about a wide range of options, most significant among them delisting the PMOI and protecting the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq, where 3,400 PMOI members reside. They called for a more firm stance towards the regime.
The conference was entitled, “Iran’s Nuclear, Terrorist Threats and Rights Abuses: After Engagement and Sanctions, What?” Reporters from major media sources were also in attendance.
General James Jones, former National Security Advisor to President Obama, said the Obama administration is intent on “preventing” the Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Governor Bill Richardson, Energy Secretary and Ambassador to the UN during the Clinton administration, pointed to the situation in Camp Ashraf and said, “Obviously, we’ve got to find ways to protect those Iranians that are there. I think it’s inexcusable that we’re not doing it.”
“With the MEK, it makes sense to take them off the terrorism list,” Gov. Richardson added.
General Anthony Zinni, former commander of US forces in the Middle East (CENTCOM), agreed with the panelists that the solution to the Iranian crisis is to support the Iranian opposition and to delist the PMOI.
Former Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, pointed to the 180 loudspeakers in Camp Ashraf, which serve as instruments of psychological torture against the residents, and other abuses perpetrated against the people of Ashraf. He also called on the Obama administration to delist the PMOI.
“It is important not only that the designation be removed but also that it be removed quickly before Iran and those acting in its behalf can wear down the residents of Ashraf and force them to leave or impose an even worse fate on them,” Dr. Mukasey added.
Tom Ridge, former Homeland Secretary, pointed to the human rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime in Iran and against Camp Ashraf, saying that the PMOI should be delisted so that it can work to bring democratic change in Iran.
“Delist the MEK and let them take the voices of freedom to the street and do what they need to do to bring freedom and democracy in Iran.”
“Time is not our ally in our collective efforts to prevent the tyrannical regime in Tehran from becoming a nuclear power. As a matter of fact, time is running out,” he said.
Ambassador Mitchell Reiss, a former State Department official, said, “The Obama administration should continue to tighten the economic noose around this regime,” adding that at the same time there is “no reason to be shy about doing more to support the Iranian opposition. A good first step would be delisting the MEK.”
Former CIA Director, James Woolsey, compared the Iranian regime’s characteristics with those of the Nazis in the 1930s, saying the mullahs’ claims about “peaceful” nuclear intentions are reminiscent of Hitler’s assurances before WWII.
Mr. Woolsey pointed to the July Court of Appeals ruling in favor of the PMOI and said the verdict in effect says, “What the Department of State has done is what the red queen does in Alice in the Wonderland … execution first, then trial.”
Louis Freeh, former FBI Director from 1993 to 2001, who oversaw investigations into the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, juxtaposed significant opposition to indicting Iranian regime officials for the bombings at the time with attempt to engage the regime by listing the PMOI as a terrorist organization.
Former New Jersey Senator Robert Torricelli, who moderated the session, called for a firm stance against the Iranian regime, and said the bi-partisan conference calling for a new policy toward Iran was unprecedented.
Senator Torricelli also said, “The listing of the MEK as a terrorist organization by the United States government is wrong. It is wrong as a matter of law, it is contrary to the facts, it is interfering with the rights of American citizens to be heard and it is contrary to American foreign policy.”