Maryam Rajavi - Iran's Opposition?

Submitted by Robert (United States), Oct 8, 2022 at 14:06

In 1953, the (Communist) Soviet Union (SU) was our greatest and adversary. Regime Change was a policy practiced by the SU and accepted as a natural part between the Capitalist vs. Communist struggle.

Unfortunately, in retrospect, that US supported Regime Change alienated Iranian from us and our system.

As a consequence, however, a far worse and destructive system replaced it - an Islamic (Shia) or Islamist Regime that's the only Theocracy in the world (except, perhaps in Afghanistan, whose system has not yet settled for definition).

In hindsight, perhaps we should have permit Iran to evolve as a Socialist republic. Many European Union states have strong socialist backgrounds, but these have not result in a Stalinist or Maoist communist dictatorship.

You, Dr. Daniel Pipes, have even met Maryam Rajavi in person. You are particularly well placed to make observation about the woman Iranian leader. Yet all I read (briefly) seems to suggest that you think of her and her organization as merely "useful idiots" (this is not your actual term, but my interpretation.

It is this Iranian Woman (I deliberately capitalized this term for obvious topical reasons) of, together with her Husband that lead Iran's most powerful and feared opposition. As you know very well, President Bill Clinton was responsible for designating her organization to be "terrorists." I believe this was to appease the Mullahs. But were not our (USA) Founding Fathers similarly "terrorists" against the "legitimate" regime of King George III of the United Kingdom who ruled over us when we were merely 13 colonies?

As you know, incidentally, the United Kingdom still has the Anglican Church as its State Religion, and the King of the United Kingdom is sworn to defend it. According, I do not see the association of the MEK, headed by her, as intrinsically undemocratic or supporting any similar regime. In fact, you are in a great position of knowledge to announce that neither she, nor her husband, not her organization are Islamist - but I do not think you have done that. Or did I miss something?

And, incidentally, aside from the former Shah's son, who lives in exile and does not want to rule Iran, but opposes the Mullah regime, what Opposition alternative exists for Iran?

So, as a world-class expert on Islam, why don't you express you views and possible support for this Iranian Woman leader and her organization? Or do you think it's a Cult, and much worse than the Stern Gang of Israel's history and independence which, incidentally, opposed Ben Gurion's "milder" policies, but later produced an Israeli Prime Minister further on the right.

In brief, I think you should either give your ideological support Maryam Rajavi and her MEK organization, or in the alternative, explain you reservations? As I hear often in revolutionary discourse, unless there is leadership, no regime change is possible. Who else does Iran have at this moment but her?

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