Terror Tagging of an Iranian Dissident Organization

POLITICS, LAW, AND FACTS

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released today by Iran Policy Committee:

WHEN: 9:30a-11:00a, Thursday, 18 August 2011

WHERE: Holeman Lounge, National Press Club, 529 14^th St. NW, Washington DC

WHY: As the White House calls for regime change in Arab states, it acknowledges little is known about dissidents who might replace ruling elites. Regime change in Egypt and Tunisia and efforts to change regimes in Libya, Syria, and Yemen call for intelligence about oppositionists. But for Iran, the State Department has picked winners and losers, irrespective of the facts.

By labeling as terrorist one Iranian dissident organization, the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MeK), American policy has tagged it as a "loser." Contrary to law and facts, State has so far retained a terrorist tag on the MeK—a main political threat to the Iranian regime.

With a simple signature to remove the terrorist tag on the MeK, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would bring State in accord with the law and facts; empower the people to change the Iranian regime; and open a new political option between failed engagement and ineffective sanctions, on one hand, and problematic military action, on the other.

Moderator: Bruce McColm, Former Executive Director, Freedom House

Panelists:

• John Sano, former Central Intelligence Agency National Clandestine Service (formerly Directorate of Operations) first Deputy Director
• Lt Gen Tom McInerney (Ret, USAF), former Assistant Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force
• Professor Raymond Tanter, former National Security Council staff Member, plans to launch a new book at the press conference called Terror Tagging.

Complimentary copies of Terror Tagging will be available.

SOURCE Iran Policy Committee