Iran Under the Shah

Thomas Friedman's article, "A shah with a turban" (Views, Dec. 24), poignantly illustrated the rift between Iran's clerical dictatorship and the country's population, especially the youth. However, an inappropriate headline and cartoon by Kal undermined what was informative and valuable in his article.

The implication that the shah's reign bears any resemblance to the present regime is inaccurate. Under the late Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Iranians enjoyed incomparably better lives than what they have to endure today; moreover, the prospect for a stable Middle East appeared promising.

Jews and other religious minorities thrived and prospered under the shah, who promoted religious freedom and tolerance. During World War II, Iran assisted many Jews fleeing the Nazis by issuing them Iranian travel documents, a policy that was continued for Middle Eastern Jews expelled from their respective countries.

Interesting Amazon book review:

All about Pandemonium in Iran, September 23, 2001
Reviewer:
With "Time for Truth," Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, twin sister of the late Shah of Iran has delivered a veritable little gem on terrorism, deception, disinformation, double crosses, triple crosses and clandestine operations leading to the overturn of her brother. Best of all this is a fascinating, easy to read work that would make even James Bond cower -- it gives us a close look into the minds of shady individuals concocting and perpetrating outrageous deeds. Intrigues and danger are not alien to the Princess who escaped an assassination attempt and whose own son was murdered by Islamic terrorist. It is perhaps fit to recall that some fifty years ago the then young Princess went to see Stalin in the Kremlin in order to plead with great passion for the retrieval of Soviet invading forces from Iran, no small feat at the time (1946). Impressed by her courage, Stalin became all smiles. He said loudly to his rather stern entourage: "Now here is a brave and true patriot." Years later, in January 1978, President Carter embraced the Shah in Tehran praising Iran as an "island of stability" in a turbulent Middle East, while his aids were already at work hurling this staunch ally of the United States into the fiery flames of a revolution they so evidently encouraged. The book also chronicles the creation and assisting of Islamic fundamentalist cells in 1978 America as well as the encouraging of Islamic radicals. The fall of a modernizing but hesitant monarch was soon to be followed by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the ill-starred bolstering of the wrong camp: the sanguinary Talibans. Indeed, the book is a thorough account on how Washington, London and Paris deserted the legitimate government of Iran with very dire end result for America, the free world, the Middle East and the unfortunate Iranian people. Following the devastating terrorist attacks of Manhattan's World Trade Center, Washington's Pentagon and the loss of so many thousands of innocent lives, I wonder if we will ever be able to continue living in reasonable safety. Time for Truth is not only a page-turner on Pandemonium, in fact it is a must read that will help you unearth lurking creeps. If you don't believe me, here is a tip: Type NYC CNN in your word processor, change the fonts to larger wingdings. Is the result just a coincidence? YOU find out...
A. N. Onyme (New York City)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1886966001/ref=nosim/103-4321277-3464652?n=283155

And you think all that enmity is the result of the US allowing the Shah and his family to enter the US to seek medical treatment?

This is a moment in history that I wish our administration had listened to the "big picture" intelligence analysis provided them at the time. I am 100% confident PANAMA would have been a better location for the Shah's and the Shah's family's exile and have evidence to back up this opinion and others. No, I don't think the family of the Shah settling in the U.S. is the entire story but yes, it has something to do with it. Ultimately we have to move forward, not give up, not wallow in historical fantasy and try to work out a RESOLUTION.

SOURCE:

THREAT ASSESSMENT: IRAN - Prepared by: Stephanie C. Stuaffer, 632-1864 - Approved by: Bowman H. Miller, Sid T. Telford, 632-2412 - June 14, 1979

(S) Anti-U.S. feelings, which appeared to have abated several months ago following the evacuation of most Americans, are on the increase. The fractionalization of the Islamic movement and the many political groups competing for public favor may once again find the U.S. an attractive target for propaganda and aggression. Recent demonstrations protesting Senator Jacob Javits’ resolution on Iran point out the fact that any political decision which Iranians in general consider disadvantageous to them could trigger anti U.S. demonstrations and or incidents. In this regard, a decision to allow the deposed Shah and or family members to visit or settle in the United States could have serious consequences. The Iranian reaction would probably be immediate and possibly violent. Such a decision would probably be the one cohesive and unifying factor in the entire Iranian political spectrum.

REGIME SOURCE:

Beset by advanced cancer, the shah left Iran in January 1979 to begin a life in exile. He lived in Egypt, Morocco, the Bahamas, and Mexico before going to the United States for treatment of lymphatic cancer. His arrival in New York City led to the Iranian takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran by "Students of Imam's Line" and the taking hostage of more than 50 Americans for 444 days.

BBC SOURCE:

1979 4 November - Iranian students seize 63 hostages at US embassy in Tehran, prompting drawn-out crisis leading to severing of diplomatic ties and sweeping US sanctions against Iran. Their initial demand is that the Shah return from the US to Iran to face trial. Later Iran also demands the US undertake not to interfere in its affairs.

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