Editing Rudy Giuliani (section)

=== Before 2008 election ===
[[File:Giuliani Bush.jpg|thumb|right|Giuliani and President [[George W. Bush]] in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on August 26, 2004]]

Since leaving office as mayor, Giuliani has remained politically active by campaigning for Republican candidates for political offices at all levels. When [[George Pataki]] became governor in 1995, this represented the first time the positions of both mayor and governor were held simultaneously by Republicans since [[John Lindsay]] and [[Nelson Rockefeller]]. Giuliani and Pataki were instrumental in bringing the [[2004 Republican National Convention]] to New York City.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.b270a4a1d51bb3017bce0ed101c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=nyc_blue_room&catID=1194&doc_name=http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/2003a/pr032-03.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1 |title=Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Rnc Chairman Marc Racicot Sign City-Site Agreement for 2004 Republican National Convention |date=January 31, 2003 |publisher=New York City |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926001922/http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.b270a4a1d51bb3017bce0ed101c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=nyc_blue_room&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2003a%2Fpr032-03.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1 |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was a speaker at the convention, and endorsed President [[George W. Bush]] for re-election by recalling that immediately after the World Trade Center towers fell,
{{blockquote|Without really thinking, based on just emotion, spontaneous, I grabbed the arm of then-Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, and I said to him, 'Bernie, thank God George Bush is our president.'<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/giuliani.transcript/ |title=Giuliani: 'Thank God that George Bush is our president' |work=CNN |date=August 31, 2004 |access-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305023549/http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/30/giuliani.transcript/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

Similarly, in June 2006, Giuliani started a website called Solutions America to help elect Republican candidates across the nation.

After campaigning on Bush's behalf in the [[2004 United States presidential election|U.S. presidential election of 2004]], he was reportedly the top choice for [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of Homeland Security]] after [[Tom Ridge]]'s resignation. When suggestions were made that Giuliani's confirmation hearings would be marred by details of his past affairs and scandals, he turned down the offer and instead recommended his friend and former New York Police Commissioner [[Bernard Kerik]]. After the formal announcement of Kerik's nomination, information about Kerik's past{{snd}}most notably, that he had ties to organized crime, had failed to properly report gifts he had received, had been sued for [[sexual harassment]] and had employed an undocumented alien as a domestic servant{{snd}}became known, and Kerik withdrew his nomination.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bernstein |first1=Nina |last2=Stein |first2=Robin |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/us/mystery-woman-in-kerik-case-nanny.html |title=Mystery Woman in Kerik Case: Nanny |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 16, 2004 |access-date=August 3, 2015 |archive-date=September 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921232542/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/us/mystery-woman-in-kerik-case-nanny.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Rudy Giuliani ribbon-cutting ceremony.jpg|thumb|right|Giuliani cutting the ribbon of the new [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] mobile museum in [[Dallas|Dallas, Texas]], in September 2003]]

On March 15, 2006, Congress formed the [[Iraq Study Group]] (ISG). This [[Bipartisanship|bipartisan]] ten-person panel, of which Giuliani was one of the members, was charged with assessing the [[Iraq War]] and making recommendations. They would eventually unanimously conclude that contrary to [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] assertions, "The situation in [[Iraq]] is grave and deteriorating" and called for "changes in the primary mission" that would allow "the United States to begin to move its forces out of Iraq".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/iraq_study_group_report.pdf |title=Iraq Study Group report |date=December 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090601191410/http://www.usip.org/isg/iraq_study_group_report/report/1206/iraq_study_group_report.pdf |archive-date=June 1, 2009 |first1=James A. |last1=Baker |author-link1=James Baker |first2=Lee H. |last2=Hamilton |author-link2=Lee H. Hamilton |first3=Lawrence S. |last3=Eagleburger |author-link3=Lawrence Eagleburger |first4=Vernon E. Jr. |last4=Jordan |author-link4=Vernon Jordan |first5=Edwin III |last5=Meese |author-link5=Edwin Meese |first6=Sandra Day |last6=O'Connor |author-link6=Sandra Day O'Connor |first7=Leon E. |last7=Panetta |author-link7=Leon Panetta |first8=William J. |last8=Perry |author-link8=William J. Perry|first9=Charles S. |last9=Robb |author-link9=Chuck Robb |first10=Alan K. |last10=Simpson |author-link10=Alan K. Simpson |publisher=United States Institute of Peace |access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref>

On May 24, 2006, after missing all the group's meetings,<ref name="Gordon-2007">{{cite web|first=Craig|last=Gordon|date=June 18, 2007 |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-usrudy0619,0,2577021,print.story |url-status=dead |title=Rudy missing in action for Iraq panel |work=[[Newsday]] |access-date=20 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621145811/http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-usrudy0619,0,2577021,print.story |archive-date=June 21, 2007 }}</ref> including a briefing from General [[David Petraeus]], former [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] and former [[Chief of Staff of the United States Army|Army Chief of Staff]] [[Eric Shinseki]],<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Amanda |last=Ripley |author-link=Amanda Ripley |url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1655262,00.html |title=Mr. Tough Talk |magazine=Time |date=September 3, 2007 |page=31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080402010041/http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1655262,00.html |archive-date=April 2, 2008 |access-date=20 December 2023 }}</ref> Giuliani resigned from the panel, citing "previous time commitments".<ref>{{cite press release |title=Edwin Meese Replaces Rudolph Giuliani on Iraq Study Group |work=United States Institute of Peace |url=http://www.usip.org/isg/news_releases/meese.html |date=May 31, 2006 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214215114/http://www.usip.org/isg/news_releases/meese.html |archive-date=February 14, 2007}}</ref> Giuliani's fundraising schedule had kept him from participating in the panel, a schedule which raised $11.4{{spaces}}million in [[speaking fee]]s over fourteen months,<ref name="Gordon-2007" /> and that Giuliani had been forced to resign after being given "an ultimatum to either show up for meetings or leave the group" by group leader [[James Baker]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Marc |last=Santora |access-date=May 17, 2023 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/washington/20repubs.html |title=Giuliani Left Group on Iraq After Warning, Article Says |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 20, 2007 |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124052205/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/20/washington/20repubs.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Giuliani subsequently said he had started thinking about running for president, and being on the panel might give it a political spin.<ref>{{cite web|first=Fred|last=Kaplan|author-link=Fred Kaplan (journalist)|url=http://www.slate.com/id/2168858|title=The Man Who Knows Too Little: What Rudy Giuliani's Greedy Decision to Quit the Iraq Study Group Reveals about his Candidacy|work=Slate|date=June 21, 2007|access-date=March 19, 2021|archive-date=August 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811000146/http://www.slate.com/id/2168858/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Giuliani was described by ''Newsweek'' in January 2007 as "one of the most consistent cheerleaders for the president's handling of the war in Iraq"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16458783/site/newsweek/page/2/ |title=More Campaign Troubles for Giuliani |work=Newsweek |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108152027/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16458783/site/newsweek/page/2/ |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |access-date=21 December 2023 }}</ref> and as of June 2007, he remained one of the few candidates for president to unequivocally support both the basis for [[2003 invasion of Iraq|the invasion]] and the execution of the war.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/05/giuliani-iraq-war-absolutely-the-right-thing-to-do/ |title=Giuliani: Iraq war 'absolutely the right thing to do' |date=June 5, 2007 |work=CNN |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818062732/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/06/05/giuliani-iraq-war-absolutely-the-right-thing-to-do/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Giuliani spoke in support of the removal of the [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]] (MEK, also PMOI, MKO) from the [[United States State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations]].<ref>{{cite news |title=GOP leaders criticize Obama's Iran policy in rally for opposition group |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122205180.html |first=Edward |last=Cody |date=December 23, 2010 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |archive-date=January 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131181642/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/22/AR2010122205180.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The group was on the State Department list from 1997 until September 2012. Even though they were placed on the list for killing six Americans in Iran during the 1970s and attempting to attack the Iranian mission to the United Nations in 1992,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/politics/mek-terror-delisting/index.html |date=September 28, 2012 |title=Iranian exile group removed from U.S. terror list |work=CNN |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-date=September 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929031444/http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/politics/mek-terror-delisting/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |date=September 28, 2012 |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/09/198443.htm |title=Delisting of the Mujahedin-e Khalq |website=[[United States Department of State]] |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130214621/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/09/198443.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Benjamin-2016">{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Benjamin |date=November 23, 2016 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |url=https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/giuliani-mek-terrorist-group-money-bolton-iran-214479/ |title=Giuliani Took Money from a Group That Killed Americans. Does Trump Care? |website=[[Politico Magazine]] |archive-date=April 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220424150029/https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/giuliani-mek-terrorist-group-money-bolton-iran-214479/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the MEK's [[Organization of Struggle for the Emancipation of the Working Class|Marxist opposing branch]], which at the time had retained the organization's name, claimed responsibility for the killings in their "Military Communique No.24", concluding that the murders were in retaliation for recent death sentences.<ref>{{cite book |first=Ervand |last=Abrahamian |author-link=Ervand Abrahamian |title=Radical Islam: The Iranian Mojahedin |year=1989 |publisher=[[I. B. Tauris]]|pages=166|quote="The Marxist Mojahedin were even more active, especially in Tehran. In July 1975 they made an unsuccessful, but well published attempt to assassinate a senior American diplomat; and in a separate incident fought a noisy street battle with the police, in which five of their members were killed. In August 1975, they bombed the main police in the city's northern suburbs; and in broad daylight managed to assassinate three American employees of Rockwell International: their 'Military communique no. 24' announced that these three had been 'executed' to revenge recent death sentences and to protest the waste of billions on military hardware."|isbn=978-1-85043-077-3}}</ref> Giuliani, along with other former government officials and politicians [[Ed Rendell]], [[R. James Woolsey]], [[Porter Goss]], [[Louis Freeh]], [[Michael Mukasey]], [[James L. Jones]], [[Tom Ridge]], and [[Howard Dean]], were criticized for their involvement with the group. Giuliani and others reportedly received tens of thousands of dollars in speaking fees to advocate for the MEK;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/us/politics/lobbying-support-for-iranian-exile-group-crosses-party-lines.html |title=For Obscure Iranian Exile Group, Broad Support in U.S. |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 26, 2011 |last1=Shane |first1=Scott |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=December 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218095650/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/27/us/politics/lobbying-support-for-iranian-exile-group-crosses-party-lines.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Benjamin-2016"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2016/11/15/giuliani-was-paid-advocate-for-shady-iranian-dissident-group/ |title=Giuliani was paid advocate for shady Iranian dissident group |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=November 15, 2016 |first=Josh |last=Rogin |quote=It's illegal for American citizens to do business with a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization. |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110090917/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2016/11/15/giuliani-was-paid-advocate-for-shady-iranian-dissident-group/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0808/Iranian-group-s-big-money-push-to-get-off-US-terrorist-list |title=Iranian group's big-money push to get off US terrorist list |journal=Christian Science Monitor |date=August 8, 2011 |first=Scott |last=Peterson |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813230526/https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2011/0808/Iranian-group-s-big-money-push-to-get-off-US-terrorist-list |url-status=live }}</ref> some were subpoenaed during an inquiry about who was paying the prominent individuals' speaking fees.<ref>{{cite news |first=Scott |last=Shane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/us/us-supporters-of-iranian-group-mek-face-scrutiny.html |title=U.S. Supporters of Iranian Group Face Scrutiny |date=March 13, 2012 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 16, 2016 |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206092940/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/us/us-supporters-of-iranian-group-mek-face-scrutiny.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Several commentators wrote that under the [[PATRIOT Act]], these people could be potentially prosecuted for [[providing material support for terrorism]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.thinkprogress.org/giuliani-dean-paid-to-advocate-for-terrorist-group-9c316a06c50/ |title=Giuliani, Dean Paid to Advocate for Terrorist Group |work=[[ThinkProgress]] |date=May 13, 2011 |first=Matt |last=Duss |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=July 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710153702/https://archive.thinkprogress.org/giuliani-dean-paid-to-advocate-for-terrorist-group-9c316a06c50/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Serwer |url=https://prospect.org/article/rudy-giuliani-offer-terrorist-group-material-support/ |title=Did Rudy Giuliani Offer a Terrorist Group Material Support? |date=January 3, 2011 |work=[[The American Prospect]] |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=July 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729181132/https://prospect.org/article/rudy-giuliani-offer-terrorist-group-material-support/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a claim Giuliani denied.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rudy-giuliani-denies-supporting-terrorist-organization/ |title=Rudy Giuliani Denies Supporting Terrorist Organization |website=[[CBS News]] |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2022 |first=Brian |last=Montopoli |archive-date=June 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614130212/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rudy-giuliani-denies-supporting-terrorist-organization/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Mukasey-2011"/> Giuliani and others wrote an article for the conservative publication ''[[National Review]]'' stating their position that the group should not be classified as a terrorist organization. They supported their position by pointing out that the United Kingdom and the European Union had already removed the group from their terrorism lists. They further assert that only the United States and Iran still listed it as a terrorist group.<ref name="Mukasey-2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2011/01/mek-not-terrorist-group-michael-b-mukasey-tom-ridge-rudolph-w-giuliani-and-fran/ |title=MEK Is Not a Terrorist Group |work=National Review |date=January 10, 2011 |access-date=November 19, 2015 |first1=Michael B. |last1=Mukasey |first2=Tom |last2=Ridge |first3=Rudolph |last3=Giuliani |first4=Frances Fragos |last4=Townsend |archive-date=June 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220609045443/https://www.nationalreview.com/2011/01/mek-not-terrorist-group-michael-b-mukasey-tom-ridge-rudolph-w-giuliani-and-fran/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Canada did not delist the group until December 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-drops-iranian-group-mek-from-terror-list-1.1239066 |title=Canada drops Iranian group MEK from terror list |publisher=CBC News |date=December 20, 2012 |access-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=November 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120121629/http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-drops-iranian-group-mek-from-terror-list-1.1239066 |url-status=live }}</ref>