What if the Shah of Iran had remained: 35 years later

FSM ^ | 9/28/14 | Slater Bakhtavar

[freedom44]

In 1979, after a long campaign of political pressure applied by the Carter administration in the United States, the Shah of Iran fell to the Islamic Revolution, ending a tradition of monarchic rule that had persisted in Iran for thousands of years since the rule of Cyrus the Great. The stage was set for the rise of the Ayatollah, and the establishment of a theocracy in Iran that, today, most Iranians do not even want. But what if none of that had ever happened? While a momentous departure from actual history, it is not nearly so far-fetched as it sounds. It isn't difficult to imagine that, beset by strife as the Shah was at the time, the opposition of a major world power like the United States was the final straw that brought the monarchy to an end, and it is not even clear why President Carter chose to engage in such opposition. While there were some human rights concerns taking place under the Shah, as Carter noted, these pale in comparison to the atrocities committed by the sorts of Islamic extremists that have since risen to power in Iran and found a more conducive environment in the Middle East generally. Let's see what else would have been different had Carter relented, and the Shah remained.

[Cubs Fan]

Just goes to show how presidential f-ups can still damage a country over 30 years later.

I can only imagine what Obama’s numerous epic failures will do to us down the road.

[Forgotten Amendments]

And if I think maybe every time we pick a foreign country's new leader it's been a bloodstained catastrophe, I am naïve.

[Cubs Fan]

wow great post,

It really illustrates well the sheer backwardness of Islam.

[Theoria]

And several decades before, We helped put pro Nazi supporters in charge of Iran and other malcontents to help our agenda there. There are no clean hands in the ME.

[Sooth2222]

...millions of people would still be alive today. Carter couldn't erase the karma from his bad decisions if he built houses from 1980 until the time the sun becomes a red giant.

[kabar]

You don’t know what you are talking about.

[Forgotten Amendments]

You don’t know what you are talking about.

Yes he does. What Carter "did" in Iran pales next to the Iraq disaster.

100 years ago, Woodrow Wilson and his "wise" European counterparts started this train wreck. And we haven't learned a thing.

[rawcatslyentist]

>>"You don’t know what you are talking about."

Not a clue. I bet you still watch TV.

[Nowhere Man]

It must really suck to be Iranian and see pictures from 40 years ago and see a more modern world than the one they live in now.

I remember when I was in fourth grade, 1976-77, every so often our teacher would have us watch PBS programs on WQED in Pittsburgh. One program we watched a lot was "Big Blue Marble" where it featured how children and teens from different countries lived. I remember one episode where it featured a girl from Iran, I think she was 13 or 14, where she enjoyed her life where she can buy Levi jeans, listen to American rock on her cassette player and go out with her girlfriends, have pizza and a good time. She lived in a modern house/apartment, her family had a couple of cars and so forth. I'm sure a few years later her life has changed. B-( If she is alive, she'd be in her early 50's (I turned 10 in 1976 ad I'm 48) by now so I wonder what she thinks and wishes she lived back in the good times again. IIRC, the children's magazine "Highlights" had an article on Iran too or was it the "Weekly Reader" (?), I'm not sure, but all I can say is they turned a modern nation into a crappy hellhole.

[Theodore R.]

The American people and their president in 1977 said the shah was mean and he had to go. People probably still believe that too.

[Theodore R.]

Richard M. Nixon was always talking about how good Woodrow Wilson was. Must have been the CFR connection

[Theodore R.]

They may not be on the side of America, but the American people don’t know that.

[Theodore R.]

All true, and all above the minds of the American people

[Theodore R.]

Sounds like if you lived in GA, you might not vote for Jimmuh’s grandson for governor. Jimmuh and Rosalyn would not be happy with you.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Sounds like if you lived in GA, you might not vote for Jimmuh’s grandson for governor. Jimmuh and Rosalyn would not be happy with you”

Is his grandson Conservative?
Jimmah is still a suppurating butt wart. I’d love to tell him that to his face! I got to tell Dennis K. that I thought he was a complete a-hole. That was very satisfying!

[reg45]

The Shah would have died within two years - he had incurable cancer. His son would have been the new Shah. The son was western educated and would have been more liberal than his father had been - but still pro-American.

[kabar]

We didn't use Iraq as a proxy to attack Iran nor did we sell WMD to Saddam Hussein.

I was stationed at our embassy in Tehran from 1977-79, including being there when our embassy was overrun on February 4, 1979. I am well acquainted with Carter's failures.

[kabar]

The US did not use Iraq as a proxy to attack Iran nor did we sell WMD to Saddam. Iraq attacked Iran on September 22, 1980.

[norton]

Intriguing post but I can't tie it to #27.
Can you elaborate please?

PS: it was my understanding that the son tried for years to get the US to honor promises made to the Shah, including arms sales that were never delivered to either party.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

The Shah’s son will rule someday—when the people get sick of the religious tyranny of the Mullahs. It will be a better Iran then.