The Mujahedin-e Khalq in Iraq : a policy conundrum / Jeremiah Goulka ... [and others].

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Goulka, Jeremiah E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sāzmān-i Mujāhidīn-i Khalq (Iran).

Terrorism--Government policy--United States.

Terrorism.

Terrorism--Government policy.

Terrorists.

United States.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009--Moral and ethical aspects.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Terrorists--Iran.

Terrorists--Iraq.

Iraq.

Iran.

Physical Description:

xxvi, 105 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 2009.

Summary:

During Operation Iraqi Freedom, coalition forces classified the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MeK), an Iranian dissident group dedicated to the violent overthrow of the Iranian government, as an enemy force. The MeK had provided security services to Saddam Hussein from its camps in Iraq and had been listed as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State. After a cease-fire was signed, the U.S. Secretary of Defense designated this group's members as civilian "protected persons" rather than combatant prisoners of war under the Geneva Conventions. A RAND study examined the evolution of this controversial decision, which has left the United States open to charges of hypocrisy in the war on terrorism. An examination of MeK activities establishes its cuitic practices and its deceptive recruitment and public relations strategies. A series of coalition decisions served to facilitate the MeK leadership's control over its members. The government of Iraq wants to expel the group, but no country other than Iran will accept it. Thus, the RAND study concludes that the best course of action would be to repatriate the majority of its members to Iran, which in 2003 granted amnesty to the MeK rank and file and appears to have upheld its commitment. The coalition's experience with the MeK also offers lessons for dealing with special populations in future military actions and for providing better training for field commanders and enlisted personnel.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Mujahedin-e Khalq: A U.S. Policy Conundrum 1

Who Are the MeK? 2

The MeK During Operation Iraqi Freedom 4

The Complicated Situation at Camp Ashraf 6

Research Questions 6

Research Approach 7

Organization of This Monograph 8

Chapter 2 The MeK During Operation Iraqi Freedom 9

A MeK Cease-Fire but Not a Surrender 10

Consolidation of the MeK at Camp Ashraf 12

First Tasks at Camp Ashraf 12

Determining the MeK's Legal Status 13

The Iraqi Governing Council's Resolution to Expel the MeK from Iraq 18

The MeK as Protected Persons 18

Chapter 3 Options for Relocating the MeK 25

Option 1 Reestablishing the MeK in Iraq 26

Option 2 Resettling the MeK in Third Countries 27

Resettling Current MeK Members 27

Resettling Former MeK Members 29

Option 3 Repatriating the MeK to Iran 30

Chapter 4 Unexpected Challenges, Unintended Consequences, and Lessons Learned 35

OIF Planners Did Not Adequately Define a Military Mission Regarding the MeK 35

Coalition Forces Were Not Prepared to Deal with an Unfamiliar Culture or the MeK's Atypical Characteristics 37

The MeK as a Cult 38

The MeK as Skilled Manipulators of Public Opinion 39

The MeK Has Not Been Treated as a Terrorist Organization 40

Coalition Forces Did Not Establish a Dominant Role at Camp Ashraf 42

The MeK Was Allowed Considerable Freedom of Movement 42

Insufficient Manpower Was an Ongoing Problem for the Coalition 42

The MeK Was Permitted to Establish a Liaison Office and to Promote Its Cause on a Coalition Base 43

The Coalition Did Not Actively Encourage MeK Members to Leave the Group 44

Ultimately the Only Coalition Policy Toward the MeK Was a Half-Hearted Measute Called "Graceful Degradation" 45

What Lessons Have Been Learned from the MeK Experience? 48

Findings and Recommendations 49

Short Term 49

Longer Term 50.

Notes:

"MG-871-OSD"--P. [4] of cover.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780833047014

0833047019

OCLC:

424333759