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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 [[Progressivism|progressive]] force for human rights. U.S. Ambassador William Sullivan compared Khomeini to [[Mahatma Gandhi]].”  

The '''Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini''' (1902 - 1989) was a Muslim [[Shiite]] cleric 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 [[Progressivism|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.

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==