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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]].”  

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 in human wave attacks to clear minefields so the regular Army could follow.  This was reported by the Iranian daily newspaper ''Ettelaat'' and later an eyewitness gave an account to the German newspaper ''Frankfurter Allgemeine'' in 2002.  Some 100,000 were killed this way.

In 1979,  the Ayatollah  Khomeini created the ''Basij Mostazafan'' a mass movement of young people between 12 and 17 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 in human wave attacks to clear minefields so the regular Army could follow.  This was reported by the Iranian daily newspaper ''Ettelaat'' and later an eyewitness gave an account to the German newspaper ''Frankfurter Allgemeine'' in 2002.  Some 100,000 were killed this way.

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.