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| − | [[Image:Iran.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini<br>Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] | + | [[Image:Iran.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini<br>Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran]] |
| | The Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini was a Muslim [[Shiite]] who took control of Iran after a revolution overthrew in 1979 one of the twin pilars of Western cooperative security arangements in the Persian Gulf, the Shah [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]]. The Ayatollah came to power as part of US President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s "Human Rights" policy. William Miller, chief of staff on the US Senate Intelligence Committee, said America had nothing to fear from Khomeini since he would be a progressive force for human rights. U.S. Ambassador William Sullivan compared Khomeini to [[Mahatma Gandhi]].” | | The Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini was a Muslim [[Shiite]] who took control of Iran after a revolution overthrew in 1979 one of the twin pilars of Western cooperative security arangements in the Persian Gulf, the Shah [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]]. The Ayatollah came to power as part of US President [[Jimmy Carter]]'s "Human Rights" policy. William Miller, chief of staff on the US Senate Intelligence Committee, said America had nothing to fear from Khomeini since he would be a progressive force for human rights. U.S. Ambassador William Sullivan compared Khomeini to [[Mahatma Gandhi]].” |
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| | + | In 1979, the Ayatollah Khomeini created the ''Basij Mostazafan'' a mass movement of young people between 12 and 18 years of age. When the Iran-Iraq War started, they were incorporated into the Iranian military. Khomeini issued a [[fatwa]] and promise of paradise calling for the young people to move forward on foot and blow themselves up to clear minefields so the regular Army could follow. |
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| | The Ayatollah held American hostages until President Carter, who had admitted the Shah into the United States for medical treatment, left the presidency on Jan. 20, 1981. | | The Ayatollah held American hostages until President Carter, who had admitted the Shah into the United States for medical treatment, left the presidency on Jan. 20, 1981. |
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| | ==Sources== | | ==Sources== |
| | *Grinter, Dr. Lawrence E. [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1983/jan-feb/grinter.html ''Avoiding the Burden: The Carter Doctrine in Perspective''] Vol. XXXIV, No. 2 (January-February 1983): 73-82. | | *Grinter, Dr. Lawrence E. [http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/airchronicles/aureview/1983/jan-feb/grinter.html ''Avoiding the Burden: The Carter Doctrine in Perspective''] Vol. XXXIV, No. 2 (January-February 1983): 73-82. |
| | + | *[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/iran-iraq.htm Global Security.org Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)] |
| | + | *Winton, Emanual E., [http://www.tzemach.org/fyi/docs/winston/july17-01.htm ''Abomination: The Sacrificing of Children''], Tzemach, 17 July 2001. |
| | + | *Küntzel, Matthias, [http://www.tnr.com/user/nregi.mhtml?i=20060424&s=kuntzel042406 ''A Child of the Revolution takes Over''], The New Republic, April 4, 2006. |
| | *D'Souza, Dinesh,[http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2007/01/29/giving_radical_islam_its_start ''Giving radical Islam its start''], January 29, 2007. | | *D'Souza, Dinesh,[http://townhall.com/columnists/DineshDSouza/2007/01/29/giving_radical_islam_its_start ''Giving radical Islam its start''], January 29, 2007. |