US Secretly Negotiating With Iran

Adam Smith · July 31, 2003, 22:56

From MSNBC

July 31 — The Bush administration is engaged in a secret dialogue with Iran to try to persuade Iran to hand over top al-Qaida operatives, U.S. officials told NBC News.

THE THREE OPERATIVES are among the most wanted members of al-Qaida:
Abu Mussab al Zarqawi, an alleged poison expert who got medical treatment in Iraq.
Sa’ad Bin Laden, Osama bin Laden’s third-oldest son who is believed to be planning new al-Qaida operations.
Suleiman Abu Ghaith, the al-Qaida spokesman famous for introducing bin Laden in a widely seen videotape after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Many U.S. officials believe that Iran is willing to turn them and other key al-Qaida operatives over to the United States or their home countries for a price: in exchange for members of an Iranian opposition group called the Mujahadeen al-Khalq, or MEK.
The MEK has been attacking Iran’s Islamic government from Iraq and is now in Iraq under U.S. military control.

DEALING WITH ‘AXIS OF EVIL’
A former member of President Bush’s national security team says that despite the administration’s reluctance to publicly engage a country the president called part of the “axis of evil,” it’s worth handing Iran the MEK. According to Flynt Leverett, “It is potentially a big enough payoff that the United States should, on grounds of its national interest, be willing to strike a deal.”
In addition, some U.S. officials believe the MEK deserves to be handed over to Iran. The group is defined by the State Department as a terrorist organization responsible for killing U.S. military troops and civilians and supporting the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979.
The MEK was financed, armed and trained by former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein until the war. But the group does have support in the United States from some lawmakers who say its members are freedom fighters who should have U.S. backing.

OPPOSING THE DEAL
Hawkish Republicans say under no circumstances should the United States negotiate with Iran while it’s pursuing nuclear weapons. “We shouldn’t do anything that makes it look as if we’re recognizing, legitimizing, and favoring the regime in Iran,” says foreign policy expert Michael Ledine of the American Enterprise Institute.
Thursday night White House officials said there is no deal and no “formal” negotiations.
Despite what may be going on behind the scenes, the Bush administration’s public policy is Iran should hand over al-Qaida terrorists and expect nothing in return.

Is this something that the US should or should not do?

The Mad Monk · July 31, 2003, 22:57

Well, so much for the secret part of that sentence.

DinoDoc · July 31, 2003, 22:58

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Smith
July 31 — The Bush administration is engaged in a secret dialogue with Iran

Obviously not otherwise it wouldn't have hit the news.

Quote:

Is this something that the US should or should not do?

I don't see anything wrtong with it depending on how high up these people are in the Al Qaeda food chain.

Tuberski · July 31, 2003, 23:01

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Well, so much for the secret part of that sentence.

SSSSSSHHHHH!!!!! Don't tell anybody.

ACK!

Velociryx · July 31, 2003, 23:03

Yep....biiiiig secret, huh?

-=Vel=-
HUGE I tell ya....

GePap · July 31, 2003, 23:15

The NYTimes magazine had an article on the MEK: they are a cult built around a couple: hardly tools of democracy in Iran. I have no problem with them being traded for those guys.

As for the idea that Iran should just turn these guys over, what is the status of Iran and extradtion to SA, Egypt and Pakistan? Cause that is where they guys are from. Without extradition treaties with these guys, the Iranians don;t hjave to hand them to non-Iranian authorities at all.

Tuberski · July 31, 2003, 23:17

The only secret I see, is that they haven't let cameras in on the negotiations.

ACK!

DanS · August 1, 2003, 00:42

The way I read this story is that the losing end of the argument, the defense department, is widening the circle of debate to the public in order to turn the tide.

Personally, I don't know why we are dealing with the MEK/MKO (they're the same, right?). We designated them as a terrorist group and they have virtually no popular support inside Iran. This seems like a fair trade.

Giant_Squid · August 1, 2003, 01:12

Pfft...you guys don't have enough faith in the system. The newspaper specifically included a disclaimer before the article asking all terrorists to please skip over it.

Gatekeeper · August 1, 2003, 04:21

Hmm ... isn't MEK one of those rare birds — i.e., a group that has more women in it than men, and those women bear arms and conduct operations? Seems like I read something about that a few months ago.

Gatekeeper

notyoueither · August 1, 2003, 04:29

God forbid the United States engage Iran in constructive relations and encourage them towards democratisation and to desist from pursuing the bomb.

It just would not do to break the stereotypes and actually strive for peace. No, no, no, can't have that.

Now, Bush should feel free to shock the hell out of all of us by following the path of a statesman and telling the hawks to STFU while actual peace is brought to the ME.