as i alluded to earlier,
the iranian people were anti-shah more than pro-ayatollah. the people have chafed long under the rule of the mullahs, khatami as president - a reformer - was evidence of that.
they are simply power-mongers, and change threatens them.
recent droughts, economic slowdown, friction with iran's neighbours (turkey), etc. are wearing the peoples' patience with the current regime pretty thin.
backing the shah as ridiculously as america did i see as a calculated risk that paid dividends. it got their saudi buddies into a leadership role in the arab world, and it helped move the region backwards by miles in progressive thinking.
the upcoming israeli osirak-style raid into iran will keep iran's government in business for the foreseeable future, unfortuneately methinks.
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