Iranian dissidents say Baghdad camp shelled, more than 40 hurt

[alarabi]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A camp for Iranian dissidents near Baghdad's international airport was shelled on Monday, wounding more than 40 residents, the opposition People's Mujahideen Organisation of Iran (PMOI) said.

"According to reports from Camp Liberty, as of midnight tonight, more than 40 residents were wounded or injured in the missile attack on the camp," Shahin Gobadi, a Paris-based PMOI spokesman, said in a statement.

The bombardment caused major destruction in the camp, including fires and deep craters, Gobadi added.

Another PMOI spokesman, Shahriar Kia, said earlier that the group suspected "Iraqi groups affiliated with the Iranian" government were responsible for the shelling.

A witness who lives near the airport heard 20 to 30 explosions that a security source said was a bombardment targeting the secured perimeter of the airport where the camp is located. It was not clear if any of the airport's facilities were hit. Kia said more than 50 mortar rounds hit the camp.

The PMOI sided with former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during Iran's war with Iraq in the 1980s but fell out of favor with Baghdad after he was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion in 2003.

The PMOI have since come under attack several times in Iraq. Their camp near the airport was previously shelled in October.

Reuters

 

[SOHEIL]

We have to send a bomber & smoke all of the animals...

 

[raptor22]

For those whom side with the enemy of their own nation and cause harm for their country death is a must ...

 

[f1000n]

https://twitter.com/x/status/750334965452304385

 

[f1000n]

What is your opinion about the Islamic Dawa Party that currently governs Iraq and their role during the 1980-1988 war when many of it members fought against their own country and people due to ideology?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Dawa_Party

Just curious as the situation is the exact same with this group other than it being Iranian.

I don't support any political party. As you know I wasn't there back during the 80's but since they fought against the country i'd have viewed them as enemies. Currently they're not fighting against the country thus I don't view them as such but I don't affiliate with their ideology, though I don't like to keep busy with politics.

I mostly keep up with the security situation and i've noticed that since the rebirth of all those groups(militia's) which are currently under the PMF the Iraqi Sunnis, other Arabs and the rest of the world have become less negative towards the ISF. During 2013 and 2014 Al Arabiya and locals in Anbar were calling the army for Maliki forces, at some period Al Arabiya even started to name them 'Quwwat al Abadi' obviously under orders by the state but that did not last very long.

Now that everyone knows the alternative of the ISF they've changed their position. That still doesn't mean I like those groups, even though they have been doing their fair share in the fight against IS they're still trouble but they've also been helpful to restore support for the ISF. Long term it's better that they drop all religious names/slogans and turn into a 2nd national guard/holding force. I also think we need the ~4000 coalition forces in Iraq for some years to come, their presence whilst only on bases will bring stability.

Though that aside the region remains religious to the core, nothing you or I will change about it.

 

[Serpentine]

Kudos to anyone who did this, we should award them. MeK terrorists are as much dissidents as ISIS is.

 

[Arabian Stallion]

I don't support any political party. As you know I wasn't there back during the 80's but since they fought against the country i'd have viewed them as enemies. Currently they're not fighting against the country thus I don't view them as such but I don't affiliate with their ideology, though I don't like to keep busy with politics.

I mostly keep up with the security situation and i've noticed that since the rebirth of all those groups(militia's) which are currently under the PMF the Iraqi Sunnis, other Arabs and the rest of the world have become less negative towards the ISF. During 2013 and 2014 Al Arabiya and locals in Anbar were calling the army for Maliki forces, at some period Al Arabiya even started to name them 'Quwwat al Abadi' obviously under orders by the state but that did not last very long.

Now that everyone knows the alternative of the ISF they've changed their position. That still doesn't mean I like those groups, even though they have been doing their fair share in the fight against IS they're still trouble but they've also been helpful to restore support for the ISF. Long term it's better that they drop all religious names/slogans and turn into a 2nd national guard/holding force. I also think we need the ~4000 coalition forces in Iraq for some years to come, their presence whilst only on bases will bring stability.

Though that aside the region remains religious to the core, nothing you or I will change about it.

As you know I too don't support any political party nor were I alive in the 1980's. I was simply curious to hear about your views in this regard. Anyway I agree with your answer.

As you know I wish Iraq all the best, for obvious reasons, and you also know that I would like to see a strong and independent Iraq (as this would not only benefit Iraq but the region) with as few active militias as possible as this weakens the central state. Militias can also often cause discord in a divided society like Iraq while the military should and often is thought of as something "sacred" in the Arab world or at least a unifying institution that every citizen can rally around.

The problem with those ideologically and religiously motivated militias and also the militias of political/religious figures such as Al-Sadr etc. is that they have an certain agenda that is not always in the best interests of the state and they can also be exploited and are that by foreign entities such as the Mullah's in Iran who have their own interests in Iraq as you already know, as we have discussed this previously.

If non-state actors were disbanded everywhere in the Arab world it would be much better for everyone. Let people try to convince people of their ideology in a purely political way as done in the West.

 

[f1000n]

As you know I too don't support any political party nor were I alive in the 1980's. I was simply curious to hear about your views in this regard. Anyway I agree with your answer.

As you know I wish Iraq all the best, for obvious reasons, and you also know that I would like to see a strong and independent Iraq (as this would not only benefit Iraq but the region) with as few active militias as possible as this weakens the central state. Militias can also often cause discord in a divided society like Iraq while the military should and often is thought of as something "sacred" in the Arab world or at least a unifying institution that every citizen can rally around.

The problem with those ideologically and religiously motivated militias and also the militias of political/religious figures such as Al-Sadr etc. is that they have an certain agenda that is not always in the best interests of the state and they can also be exploited and are that by foreign entities such as the Mullah's in Iran who have their own interests in Iraq as you already know, as we have discussed this previously.

So what is your opinion on post-IS Iraq? It won't take long before IS lose their ground in Iraq, the end of 2016 it could be. It will depend on the next US president as well, whether those troops will stay or leave, whether they will ramp up support or not.

I wonder whether Iraq will as now keep playing all sides and have the ISF work with the west, have the PMF working with Iran and buy arms from Russia/US. Or start leaning more towards the US or Russia/Iran, I suspect it depends on Abadi and the next US president.

 

[Arabian Stallion]

So what is your opinion on post-IS Iraq? It won't take long before IS lose their ground in Iraq, the end of 2016 it could be. It will depend on the next US president as well, whether those troops will stay or leave, whether they will ramp up support or not.

I wonder whether Iraq will as now keep playing all sides and have the ISF work with the west, have the PMF working with Iran and buy arms from Russia/US. Or start leaning more towards the US or Russia/Iran, I suspect it depends on Abadi and the next US president.

Well, first and foremost the priority should be to liberate all Iraqi territory that is currently controlled by ISIS. Which is an ongoing process that ISF and local elements are working on while being aided by the international community (US mostly). A support that I believe could be much greater and which should have happened on a much greater scale earlier not only in Iraq but also neighboring Syria as the two conflict areas are closely connected.

Afterwards there should be a process where the responsible people are punished but most importantly a reconciliation process should occur in order to prevent what occurred from late 2012 until today. Or basically since the moment the Americans left (I know that they still have a small presence in mainly the Green Zone but you know what I mean here) in December 2011. This is of foremost importance in order for Iraq to progress as a strong and stable independent country.

Once that happens, or we can say that this is a part of that process, the Kurdish question must be resolved. Preferably politically as Iraq has witnessed enough of fighting.

Afterwards regional countries should reach out to Iraq and vice versa on mutually beneficial terms in order to assist the country if needed with economic aid, by building necessary infrastructure and by enhancing political and military ties. For instance I believe that it would be in the very interest of the Arab world and Iraq to enhance ties at least tenfold. Regional countries should not use Iraq as a battlefield for their proxy wars and regional ambitions. Iraq and the Iraqi people do not deserve it and they should not take part in that fight but that has unfortunately been the case throughout all those years due to the circumstances on the ground. Unfortunately.

Then Iraq should define where it stands politically. Whether it joins the American/NATO camp and its allies in the region or the Russian/Iranian camp (if you can even talk about such a camp) or remain neutral. Currently Iraq is cooperating with both sides but mostly the first. My view is that Iraq should not have a "fixed policy" in this regard but just do what benefits the country first and foremost without making any enemies within the region. At least if possible.

Thereafter I would, as I told, work towards disbanding the militias or incorporate them into the state officially if they would agree on such a thing and promise to work in the interests of the Iraqi state and not an particular ideology or a foreign entity and that foreign entity's interests. Not only militias but armed wings of political parties such as Al-Sadr for instance that recently stormed the Green Zone which should not have happened. Grievances or not.

Next there is the question of corruption which cannot be ignored. There needs to be a change of mentally in this regard and the current political setup in Iraq is fostering corruption in many ways. Also the American imposed quota system based on sect and ethnicity is also highlighting the sectarianism. Here I would like to see Iraqi governments actively work in such a way that every community and region will have as few grievances as possible. Here I am talking from a point of view where the Kurds become autonomous.

Afterwards I believe, hearing from relatives in Iraq, that the education system is in serious need of reforms and upgrades. Here I believe, given that Iraq is an Arab country where people speak Arabic, that the experience of the nearby GCC in the education sector, could be beneficial for Iraq. I mean in terms of sharing that experience. Already quite a few Iraqi students study in the GCC, mainly UAE and Kuwait but also in KSA.

Other than that it is the usual things. More privatization, more jobs being created, giving the youth a bigger chance as there are many promising young entrepreneurs in Iraq etc.

I mean much of what I mentioned can be said about KSA and all other Arab and most Muslim countries as well but I just talked specifically about Iraq as you asked about my views.

What about your own views, how do you envision a future Iraq to be?

@f1000n

You know I believe that it is important for Arabs, especially those not in the diaspora, to discuss such issues together and work together in order to tackle and solve the issues discussed. Citizens of any Arab country should freely be able to share their views without fearing repercussions. This is how vibrant and dynamic societies work.

 

[Hack-Hook]

well as far as I'm concerned people in camp liberty are only brainwashed peon that only need separation from the rest and going to rehab so they can return to society ,right now the heads of the hydra live in Europe and have the best of lives and non of them lives as their follower in camp liberty live .we must do something about those snakes.