It's Time to Support the MEK
The current American strategy in Iran is not working. "We need to develop a better strategy to protect our national interests and the security of our friends and allies in the region," argue Representatives Tom Tancredo (R-Colorado) and Bob Filner (D-California) writing in The Washington Times. Read the full article here.
Tancredo and Filner express the growing sentiment on Capitol Hill that a major change in US-Iran foreign policy is needed. They argue that the only viable course of action is active support of the Mujahedin e-Khalq (MEK), Iran's best organized opposition movement.
"The MEK is a moderate, democratic, secular organization that has consistently opposed the regime's extremist policies with a message of democratic reform and individual freedom — a message that Iran's ruling mullahs don't want their people to hear," the Congressmen say.
The problem is that the US has classified the MEK as a terrorist agency, despite repeated efforts to have it removed from the list. A well-organized, effective, anti-government Iranian organization already operating within Iran would seem to be the perfect tool for forwarding US interests in Iran and the Middle East. A few years ago, a European diplomat commenting on Iranian unrest made this astute observation:
"The pent-up anger is still there, beneath the surface. But for it to seriously take off you need a catalyst, you need a cause, you need organization and leadership. It's a big task."
The MEK can be that catalyst. With active US support, the MEK could lead the Iranian people to the democracy they desire. How much better to let Iranians change Iran than to try to force US policy down their throats. It's time to stop making mistakes in the Middle East and support the MEK.
Labels: foreign policy, invade Iran, MEK
