Money quote(s):
"My own basic "take" on this is that the PMOI are being somewhat naïve if they believe that they can maintain a highly organised and disciplined camp, with 3,400 residents parked on the border of Iran. As a former terrorist organisation, but one which has now renounced violence, the existence of the camp is nevertheless provocative, and was bound to incite a reaction from the Iranians
Given the vulnerability of Iraq to Iranian intervention, and the damage they can do to the fragile and uncertain peace (if it can be called that), it is also unsurprising that Maliki is caving into pressure from the Iranians and moving in to close down the camp.
That said, the behaviour of the Americans – making pledges that they are clearly not honouring – is disgusting, and our own government has been supine over the whole affair." (Bold typeface added for emphasis. - CAA.)
Follow this link to the Dec. 29 State Dept. briefing on Camp Ashraft.
"Any which way this panned out was going to be unsatisfactory. There was never going to be a happy outcome. But the neglect is about to turn a tragedy into a human rights disaster. That could have been stopped. It should have been stopped. That it is being allowed to continue shames us all."
Aside from some intramural volleying between varous U.S. principals back during OIF 1, and the determination that the PMOI/MEK at Camp Ashraf qualified for Protected status under the Geneva Conventions (with which determination CAA concurs), U.S. policy for resolution of the situation seems to have been to kick the can down the road a little further.
With Amb. Fried tagged with this portfolio (thus some accountability assigned), CAA is hopeful that massacres and involuntary repatriations can be avoided.
12/18
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