[Alberta's Child]

From the first hours of the fanatical regime of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979, Iran declared war on us in language it seems impossible to misunderstand.

I'm guessing that Ledeen has deliberately left out the first 25+ years of this "war" -- which basically began when the Eisenhower supported the overthrow of the duly-elected Mossadegh government of Iran back in 1953. I can understand why a typical American who doesn't know any better would think that in 1979 Iran suddenly decided that the U.S. was their enemy, but when this kind of crap is uttered by a guy who is supposed to be a "Middle East expert" there is no doubt in my mind that it is a deliberate deception.

[Alberta's Child]

Correction -- make that ". . . the Eisenhower administration . . ."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

So Iran is justified in their approach?

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

The Mossadegh situation was more complicated than you make it out. However, you are right about one thing our role in bringing down Mossadegh (frankly he deserved to come down) was a factor in 79, however, I suspect Khomeini and gang hated us for more than that (supporting the Shah all those years).