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Recalling the Shah of Iran-
various links | 8-18-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

Posted on 08/18/2002 8:27:01 AM PDT by backhoe

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Quote from the first link:

Shah Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran until 1979. The Shah used his oil wealth to modernize his nation, as Ataturk had done in Turkey. The Shah's "White Revolution" allowed women to vote and hold jobs, built big cities, and created a more secular or non-religious society.

1 posted on 08/18/2002 8:27:02 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
The Shah looked pretty good compared to every other ruler in the Gulf, including the Saudi royal family.
2 posted on 08/18/2002 8:30:05 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Ciexyz
Well, I agree- while he did repress dissidents, he also gave women rights that they had never before enjoyed, and was trying to modernize his country.

Indeed, some thought that was a prime cause of his downfall- spooking the more fundamentalist elements in Iran and elsewhere.

3 posted on 08/18/2002 8:34:03 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
Another good read is the book he published before his death, "Answer To History."

I purchased mine back in 1980, and remember being accosted by a young Muslim who spied me reading it. "You must not read that book!" he yelled at me. At which I promptly showed him my digital salute and continued.

4 posted on 08/18/2002 8:42:54 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: COBOL2Java
Appreciate the comment, and the link.

One of the most telling things I ever saw was a Jeff McNelly cartoon:

The Ayatollah driving an ox-cart over a hill...
... the sign beside the road read:

"Leaving 20th Century
Please Dim Lights..."

5 posted on 08/18/2002 8:54:25 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
My memory is kinda fuzzy about Iran in the 70's.Why didn't the US ensure that the Shah remained in power,why did the US let fundamentalist islam take over power.
6 posted on 08/18/2002 8:55:01 AM PDT by eastforker
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To: eastforker
We stupidly elected Jimmah Carter.
7 posted on 08/18/2002 8:57:58 AM PDT by RichardW
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To: eastforker
While those links can tell you better, I was around then- the Shah's secret police- Savak- were brutal and oppressive to dissidents inside Iran, and caused a lot of bad will to eminate from the Carter administration. The Press in the US, and indeed the world, didn't care for the Shah's authoritarian ways, either- he got lots of bad press.

The Ayatollah was portrayed ( wrongly, IMO ) as a noble Holy Man, rather than the fanatic he was.

8 posted on 08/18/2002 9:01:53 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: eastforker
Peanut brain was President. The Shah himself bore some responsibility if he had stayed in the palace and called in his army to kill the rebels he probably would have won.
9 posted on 08/18/2002 9:23:05 AM PDT by weikel
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To: backhoe
If our CIA was half as effective as portrayed by the professional America haters club they would have have removed Khomeini from the scene before he could have overthrown the shah. That would have been justifiable homicide IMHO. Kohmeini is one of the true monsters of history.
10 posted on 08/18/2002 9:31:47 AM PDT by RichardW
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To: RichardW
No argument from me on that! As an acquaintance of mine said at the time

"You can look at his eyes and see he's a crazy man!"

11 posted on 08/18/2002 9:35:53 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: eastforker
Why didn't the US ensure that the Shah remained in power,why did the US let fundamentalist islam take over power.

Ask this loser...

12 posted on 08/18/2002 10:02:23 AM PDT by COBOL2Java
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To: COBOL2Java
I regret to mention that Carter was my Governor before he rose to highest office... we used to call him "Wee Jimmy..."
( because he's like a real Governor, only smaller... )
13 posted on 08/18/2002 3:34:43 PM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
The lady that owns the ladies clothing store around the corner from me told me her story (she is from Iran). While the Shah was in power she and her friends and family enjoyed a life, much like ours here. The stores were overflowing with goods and life was happy. Immediately upon the Shah's overthrow, the stores were empty and people began to be in want. She told me it happened practically overnight.

She was arrested and after quite a long time in jail, found herself lined up with others in front of a firing squad. She said the officer gave the order to fire, the soldiers pulled their triggers, but they aimed and shot over the prisoners' heads. The soldiers laughed uproarously at their "joke" and the prisoners were returned to their cells. Obviously, she was eventually released and immigrated to this country.

.
14 posted on 08/18/2002 3:54:58 PM PDT by Auntie Mame
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To: Auntie Mame
Thanks for the story- I am familiar with similar tales. While the Shah was certainly a bad man to fall afoul of, my impression of that era was that if you didn't attract unwelcome attention to yourself, you'd be left alone, and he was trying to improve the lot of Iranians.

The chaos and starvation descending now on Rhodesia are bitter fruits of Carter-era foolishness- not unlike Iran was.

15 posted on 08/18/2002 4:28:14 PM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
It's 2002. Free the Sheelpe. Down with totalitarianism.
16 posted on 08/18/2002 8:37:28 PM PDT by PoorMuttly
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To: Auntie Mame; backhoe
All Middle-East belonged to the Persian Empire before the Arabic Inavsion on Iran.
Around 1400 years ago, Arabian Tribes and New Muslims attacked the Zoroasterian Iran.
These Arabs, destroyed libraries, burnt books, raped women, killed children and destroyed the Ancient Persia in name of Islam and Allah.
They took Iranian women as wives and slaves.
Persians have opposed them since then and they are still in fight with the new representative of those tribes and primitive Arabs.
Jimmy Carter must be responsible of what he has done to Iran and its people.
We hope that others learn their lesson from History.


17 posted on 07/28/2003 12:27:04 AM PDT by F14 Pilot (If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.)
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To: F14 Pilot
I thank you for your comments. Mr. Carter was my governor; we called him "Wee Jimmy..."

( He's like a real Governor, only smaller... )

18 posted on 07/28/2003 12:48:47 AM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Cold Warrior, draggin' his BAR into the sunset...)
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To: All
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/961239/posts
Question of Numbers: Propaganda against Shah of Iran revealed
IranvaJahan ^ | 08/09/03 | Cyrus Kadivar
19 posted on 08/09/2003 11:13:20 PM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...)
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To: All
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111926/posts
Role of Jimmy Carter emerging in illegal financial demands from Shah of Iran
VenusProject ^ | 3/18/04 | Alan Peters
20 posted on 04/05/2004 4:25:30 PM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the TrackBall into the Sunset...)
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