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[[Image:Iran.jpg|thumb|198px|right|Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini<br>Founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran]]

[[Image:Iran.jpg|thumb|198px|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 pillars of Western cooperative security arrangements 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 pillars of Western cooperative security arrangements 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]].”  

In 1979,  the Ayatollah  Khomeini created the ''Basij Mostazafan'' a mass movement of young people under 17 years of age.  When the Iran-Iraq War started in 1980, Khomeini issued a [[fatwa]] and promise of paradise and they were incorporated into the Iranian military. The Iranian clergy took over command from the regular military leaders in mid-1982. In July 1982 Iran launched Operation Ramadan near Basra. The clergy used "human-wave" attacks calling for the young people from age 9 years old and up to move forward in human wave attacks to clear minefields so the regular Army could follow. <ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/iran-iraq.htm Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), ''Iraqi Retreats, 1982-84''], Globalsecruity.org, retrieved 20 March 2007.</ref>  Matthias Küntzel quotes an Iraqi officer's description of one such encounter in the summer of 1982.

In 1979,  the Ayatollah  Khomeini created the ''Basij Mostazafan'' a mass movement of young people under 17 years of age.  When the Iran-Iraq War started in 1980, Khomeini issued a [[fatwa]] and promise of paradise and they were incorporated into the Iranian military. The Iranian clergy took over command from the regular military leaders in mid-1982. In July 1982 Iran launched Operation Ramadan near Basra. The clergy used "human-wave" attacks calling for the young people from age 9 years old and up to move forward in human wave attacks to clear minefields so the regular Army could follow. <ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/iran-iraq.htm Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), ''Iraqi Retreats, 1982-84''], Globalsecruity.org, retrieved 20 March 2007.</ref>  Matthias Küntzel quotes an Iraqi officer's description of one such encounter in the summer of 1982.

This played a large part in the humanitarian basis of Reagan's decision to help put the end of the Iran-Iraq War by the [[Iran-Contra affair]] and reestablish relations with an old longtime ally, Iran.

This played a large part in the humanitarian basis of Reagan's decision to help put the end of the Iran-Iraq War by the [[Iran-Contra affair]] and reestablish relations with an old longtime ally, Iran.

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.

==See also==

==See also==

*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.

*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

[[Category:Heads of state]]

[[Category:Heads of state]]

[[Category:Iran]]

[[Category:Iran]]