Changes

In 1968 Great Britain announced withdrawal from "East of Suez" in 1968 and completed in 1971.  Iran under the Shah had taken [[Great Britain]]'s place as the military power that guaranteed stability in the [[Persian Gulf]].  Rather than replace the British presence “East of Suez” to secure shipping lanes with a direct American presence, the United States chose to rely on local powers, primarily Iran and Saudi Arabia, to provide Persian Gulf security.  This "two-pillar policy" worked reasonably well until one of the pillar, Iran, collapsed in 1979.  The downfall of the Shah was a harbinger of stunningly ominous events.

In 1968 Great Britain announced withdrawal from "East of Suez" in 1968 and completed in 1971.  Iran under the Shah had taken [[Great Britain]]'s place as the military power that guaranteed stability in the [[Persian Gulf]].  Rather than replace the British presence “East of Suez” to secure shipping lanes with a direct American presence, the United States chose to rely on local powers, primarily Iran and Saudi Arabia, to provide Persian Gulf security.  This "two-pillar policy" worked reasonably well until one of the pillar, Iran, collapsed in 1979.  The downfall of the Shah was a harbinger of stunningly ominous events.

[[President Reagan]] criticized the Shah's successor, [[Ayatollah Khomeini]], as "a maniacal fanatic who has slaughtered thousands and thousands of people calling it executions."<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/84debates/2prez4.html The Second 1984 Presidential Debate]</ref>

[[President Reagan]] criticized the Shah's successor, [[Ayatollah Khomeini]], as "a maniacal fanatic who has slaughtered thousands and thousands of people calling it executions."<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/84debates/2prez4.html The Second 1984 Presidential Debate]</ref>

==References==

==References==