Washington Times: While the world awaits a United Nations decision regarding Syria, another humanitarian tragedy has taken place in Iraq’s Camp Ashraf. It was an outright massacre and must not be ignored.
The Washington Times
America broke its promise to protect helpless dissidents
By Hugh Shelton
While the world awaits a United Nations decision regarding Syria, another humanitarian tragedy has taken place in Iraq’s Camp Ashraf. It was an outright massacre and must not be ignored. On Sept. 1, at least 52 Iranian dissidents, including seven women, were executed — shot in the head and face, several with their hands tied — according to a U.N. statement.
This issue doesn’t involve poison gas, but nonetheless constituted brutal, unprovoked killing against defenseless civilians. In both Syria and Iraq, Iran’s fingerprints are clearly visible. While the mullahs decry the use of poison gas, they have done nothing to prevent its use by their client state, Bashar Assad’s Syria. That’s talking out of both sides of one’s mouth. They also threaten reprisals against the United States and its friends, notably Israel, if the U.S. launches a punishing attack on Syria.
Meanwhile, with all eyes turned elsewhere, Iran’s mullahs ordered an attack by another of its puppets, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, against the Iranian dissidents living in Iraq. These were individuals who assisted the United States after the 2003 invasion of Iraq and who were subsequently offered American protection, in writing. Today, the U.S. State Department insists that the Iraqis promised to provide protection, and the U.N. is on the scene, but the guarantee for that protection has become a joke, culminating in a ruthless massacre of the dissidents in Camp Ashraf.
This month’s attack was not the first time that Iraqi forces have attacked the camp and another haven for the dissidents, who are members of the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, the principal Iranian opposition movement. It will not be the last attack if the United States allows Iraq to continue to deny its responsibility for protection of this group or dodge blame its direct involvement in the massacre. Washington must not allow Iraq to continue to behave act in this manner with impunity.
The most recent victims were among the 100 residents allowed to remain at Camp Ashraf until the final disposition of their property. The State Department forced the rest of the 3,200 residents to move to Camp Liberty, near Baghdad, while the U.N. “debates” their final destination. At Camp Liberty — a disgrace to the name — residents have been rocketed, humiliated, abused and denied basic human needs. Prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Fort Leavenworth, Kan., live in better and safer conditions.
The United Nations has issued another protest. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and urged the Iraqi government to launch an investigation into what happened. Having the Iraqis investigate the incident is like having Mr. Assad investigate the gassing of his own citizens. Iraq knows what happened and why: because the Iranian regime told Mr. al-Maliki to have his troops perpetrate this atrocity. The secretary-general went on to express “his sorrow and extends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims.” Nice words, but that won’t bring back the 52 victims.
The United States also had all the right words, making the point to “call on Iraqi authorities to act with urgency to immediately ensure medical assistance to the wounded and to secure the camp against any further violence or harm to the residents . Those found to be responsible must be held fully accountable.”
However, this is not the first occurrence. It’s time for the United States to remind Iraq that these residents were promised U.S. protection and that another incident of this nature will result in severe repercussions — no more warnings. Either these loyal residents should be evacuated or a plan should be in place to bring Mr. al-Maliki to his knees if the recent attack is repeated. It is time for President Obama and his team to use language that Mr. al-Maliki understands.
While the world is debating the tragic events in Syria — and it surely should do so — this is a case where the United States had a direct commitment to every individual at Camp Ashraf. That pledge was ignored. The tragedy could have been avoided if Washington had heeded the warnings. Camp Liberty will suffer liquidation unless we hold Mr. al-Maliki and his Iranian sponsors to account now.
As Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the Iranian resistance, said, “The atrocious massacre in Ashraf demonstrated the ruthlessness and brutality of the religious fascism ruling Iran and its puppets in Iraq. Machine-gunning the wounded in Ashraf clinic and delivering coups de grace to victims on hospital beds is not far from poisoning.”
There can be no dispute with her contention that the United Nations and the U.S. government bear “direct responsibility” for the security of residents of Ashraf and Liberty. In particular, protection of the camps, which was illegally handed over to Iraqi killers in 2009, should be given to U.N. blue helmets, according to international law.
In addition to a plan for reprisal should attacks recur, the United States should push for an international fact-finding committee to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into the Sept. 1 massacre, with input from representatives and lawyers of residents and victims. Findings should be referred to the U.N. Security Council for prosecution and punishment of the perpetrators.
The United States made commitments to the residents of Camps Ashraf and Liberty. We should honor them. That is the American way.
Retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton is a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
