US Military Personnel Comment about MEK
General Raymond T. Odierno, Commanding General, Army’s 4th Infantry Division (2001-2004), May 10, 2003:
NORTHEASTERN IRAQ – Speaking at a Mujahedeen base near the Iranian border, [General Ray Odierno, commander of the US Army’s 4th Infantry Division] said they [MEK] appeared to be committed to democracy in Iran and their cooperation with the United States should prompt a review of their “terrorist” status. “I would say that any organization that has given up their equipment to the coalition clearly is cooperating with us, and I believe that should lead to a review of whether they are still a terrorist organization or not,” he said… Asked what role they could play in the future of Iraq, Odierno said only that they shared similar goals to the United States in “forming democracy and fighting oppression” and that they had been “extremely cooperative.”
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Warren Murphy, the Indiana National Guard’s 76th Brigade, August 7, 2009:
“I also went on several missions to Ashraf and found the people there cooperative and friendly toward us. We should be helping these folks in every way necessary. Repayment for the help they have given us is the least of the reasons to do so. Rescuing them from oppression under the Iraqi government or certain execution if repatriated to Iran is the only action that has a shade of right, and it is easily within our ability to do so.
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Lt. Colonel Julie S. Norman, Military Police, JIATF Commander, August 24, 2006:
“The PMOI [MEK] has encouraged and assisted various Iraqi groups to join the political process and dialogue with the US forces… The PMOI has been encouraging peaceful methods in its surrounding community for the establishment of a secure and democratic Iraq and has respected the laws of Iraq…
“The PMOI [MEK] has always warned against the Iranian Regime’s meddling and played a positive and effective role in exposing the threats and danger of such interventions; their intelligence has been very helpful in this regard and in some circumstance has helped save the lives of soldiers. Recommend that the facilitation of intelligence continue.”
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Col. David Phillips “Griffin-6”, the 89th Military Police Brigade, May 27, 2005:
“I am the commander of the 89th Military Police Brigade and in that role was responsible for the safety and security of Camp Ashraf from January – December 2004… We always had open dialog and debated different subjects. I was exceptionally impressed with the dedication of the female units. These units were professional and displayed strong support for freedom, democracy and equality for women… Were it not for the ongoing insurgency throughout Iraq, I would sanction my daughter to travel to Camp Ashraf and meet these very dedicated and professional female members of the Mujahedin…”
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Lt. Colonel Thomas Cantwell, Commander of 324th MP Battalion, Camp Ashraf, Iraq, May 2005:
“When I moved up into northern Diyala province [in Iraq], the relationship of the Mojahedin with the local community helped me in that regard, I think because most of the local sheiks, understanding as part of the Sunni triangle, weren’t exactly trusting of coalition forces but they seemed to have some level of trust with the Mojahedin…”
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Captain Vivian Gembara, Ex-JAG officer, Lawyer to the 4th Infantry Division, May 2005
“As a soldier and a lawyer I believe it’s time to change their (MEK) classification as a terrorist organization… The potential benefits of working together definitely overshadow previous concerns or hesitations that we had.”
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Captain Josh Felker, an Army spokesman, May 2003:
“The MEK was never fighting coalition forces.”… “They are a very respected fighting force, and as such we are treating them” courteously, Felker said. “Even though they are recognized as a terrorist organization, basically we don’t want to disrespect them. Coalition forces will not allow any other forces to occupy Iraq at this time.”
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Russell Wohlford, August 24, 2006:
“I was in Iraq in 2003-04. I was there when the MEK peacefully capitulated and turned over their arms. I was a member of a team that verified the small arms and crew-served weapons that had been turned in…
“For the record, I would have been honored to fight along their side against the Islamic Revolution and most of the guys, the joes, would have too. I wonder if they still trust us enough to help out when we need them. I would also like to say that it infuriated us that we had these guys penned up in their compounds while SCIRI and the Badr Corps were running rampant all over the Diyala Province. We caged the wrong bird.”
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