By: Gen. David Phillips, Col. Wesley Martin, Lt. Col. Leo McCloskey Apr. 25, 2012
News Leadder, 25 April 2012 –One year ago this month, the peace at a refugee camp under the “protection” of Iraq’s government was shattered as Iraqi soldiers murdered 36 defenseless Iranian dissidents and left hundreds injured. Despite calls from the U.S. Congress, the European Union and the United Nations, there has been no independent inquiry into the incident. No one has been held accountable.
The reason goes into a dark, uncomfortable place. This was not the first deadly attack on the refugees, who are members of Iran’s Mujahedin`-e-Khalq (PMOI/MEK), living in what is known as Camp Ashraf. There is a pattern of violence and intimidation against them at the hands of the Shiite officials of the Al-Maliki government, a government the U.S. paid mightily to train and set up. A cruel irony of America’s sacrifice is that a sphere of influence now exists between Baghdad and Tehran that includes efforts to crush the MEK, the Mullahs’ only viable and organized opposition.
The core members of the MEK – who promote a secular, democratic and a non-nuclear Iran – were hounded out of Iran and set up Camp Ashraf near Baghdad 26 years ago. In 1997, as the U.S. pursued a futile policy of dialogue with Tehran, the opposition group became listed as a terrorist organization worldwide, despite the fact that the group shared many values with the free world.
In 2003, U.S. forces assumed control of Camp Ashraf. A thorough investigation was conducted on the 3,400 residents and it was determined that not one terrorist was among them. The residents voluntarily disarmed to the U.S. and in return were given official “Protected Persons Status” and protection under the 4th Geneva Convention.
Iraq assumed responsibility for the camp’s security in 2009 and gave assurances that the refugees would be given “humane treatment.” But on April 8, 2011, the Iraqi Army launched its brutal attack. Video footage showed men and women being shot in the head at close range by Iraqi soldiers, or being run over by Humvees. Within days, Prime Minister Al-Maliki vowed to close Camp Ashraf completely, which would have sent the survivors into the desert to fend for themselves. Another atrocity was averted only after a massive international campaign compelled the U.N. to draw up an agreement with Iraq to assure the safety of Ashraf residents.
Brig. Gen. David Phillips (ret.), is a Missouri resident and the former chief of the Military Policy School at Fort Leonard Wood and former commander of all police operations in Iraq, including Camp Ashraf.
Col. Wesley Martin (ret.), served as the senior antiterrorism/force protection officer for all coalition forces in Iraq and was the first Col. in charge of Camp Ashraf.
Lt. Col. Leo McCloskey (ret.),was the Commander of Joint Interagency Task Force at Camp Ashraf until January 2009.
