The enemy of my enemy?

Submitted by Pat (United States), Jul 10, 2007 at 10:09

This proposal seems daring and also foolhardy. It sounds like what we did after the mullahs took over Iran. We supported Saddam Hussein (albeit briefly) in his war against Iran to prevent an Iranian victory. What good did it do? Maybe the two of them fought each other for eight years but at the end of that time we had created a second monster and were soon at war with him in Kuwait. We helped the people of Afghanistan. Once they drove the Soviets out they began fighting amongst themselves and the group that came out on top, the Taliban, turned on us.

The name of the group, People's Mujahedeen of Iran, should give no American confidence in their good intentions. Aren't Mujahedeen Islamic holy warriors? Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, Hamas, Muslim Brotherhood and many more consider themselves mujahedeen. That this group calls itself the people's mujahedeen proves nothing. Its very name makes it suspect. It doesn't preclude a desire for Islamic domination over the West.

That they oppose the mullahs doesn't mean they will be friendly toward us. The Soviets allied with the West to defeat Hitler. After the war we became their target. The Saudis aligned with us against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Once the Soviet threat dissipated, their campaign of jihad began in earnest. Why should we trust any group from Iran until they prove themselves? Fancy productions such as the one described are also aimed at the West and they can paint a false picture, making the Iranian resistance seem much larger than it really is. I would compare it to the Cuban community in Miami. Vocal and well-to-do, but without much influence in their native country.

Islam teaches that war is taqiyya. Muslims are allowed to lie in order to protect themselves. Are we to believe that MEK wants friendly relations with the US? The absence of America and Israel from their statements proves nothing. Once the mullahs are out of the way why shouldn't both countries expect to move up on their target list? If they really want to be allies of the US why not say so? Let the people of Iran know where they stand. A lie of omission is still a lie. How many times must we build up people whose ultimate aim is to destroy us?

The people of Iran don't live in a vacuum. They already know that there is an alternative to theocracy. If they want it, then they are going to have to risk "their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor" to get it. Do they want it that badly? Is freedom worth such a high price? Only the Iranian people can answer that.

What valid reason is there to trust any "opposition" groups from Iran? Remember Iran-Contra?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".