Iraq Intensifies Efforts to Expel Iranian Group

By Ernesto Londono and Saad al-Izzi, Washington Post Staff Writers
March 14, 2007

In yet another example of the US and Iraqi governments not playing nice, the Iraqis are looking to evict 3800 members of a group listed on the US list of terrorist groups that are now secured in Iraq under the authority of the US. Iraq says they have documents and witnesses that directly associate the group with Saddam’s regime and his push to crush Shiite and Kurdis opposition during the Persian Gulf War. However, the US has contended that this group, the MEK, has supplied very important information on the nuclear proliferation of Iran. The group has such knowledge because they have been attempting to overthrow the theocracy in Iran for years. The MEH claims that these new claims brought by the Iraqi government directly correlate with an infiltration by by Iranian intelligence into the highest forms of leadership in Iraq. They feel that the Iranian government is trying to prevent a US attack on Tehran by ruining any US hopes for a victory in Iraq. Essentially, two wars are now being fought in Iraq with the Iranians and the Iraqi insurgents battling the United States and coalition forces. Talk about a political predicament, the US is now at odds with the Iraqi government over a pretty key issue involving past human rights and future security. This will definitely be a tough line to walk because too much one way or the other will pose a tremendous problem in intelligence gathering or Iraqi trust.