by B. R. GOWANI
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Queen Farah Diba at a New Year’s Eve on December 31, 1977 IMAGE/Alamy/Duck Duck Go
Shah was overthrown in 1951; the US CIA put him back in power in 1953
it’s New Year’s Eve party in Tehran in 1977
US President Jimmy Carter, with Shah of Iran by his side, said:
“Iran is an island of stability in one of the most troubled areas [that is, the Middle East] of the world.”
it was an illusion of stability; those who opposed Shah were imprisoned
Shah’s notorious secret police SAVAK‘s brutality created the illusion
Carter and the US were well aware that Shah ruled with an iron fist
on 16 January 1979, Shah was forced to leave Iran — never to return back
Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini took over power
he was not any better; he also had an Islamic stick to beat people with
this is just one example of Carter befriending ruthless rulers
like other presidents, he was performing the dirty work of US imperialism
on Sept 11, 1973, Marxist President Salvador Allende was overthrown
Chile’s military head Augusto Pinochet was responsible
he was also responsible for thousands of deaths and disappearances
Carter didn’t mind relations with him because Pinochet was procapitalist
it was the Carter administration which started the Afghan war in 1979
instead of creating regional peace, Carter went for just Egypt & Israel
the Palestinians were sidelined –till today, no solution but genocide
contrary to his promise, Carter raised the defense budget
one could go on and on
as far as US foreign policy is concerned, Carter was not much different
however, post presidency, he has acted much differently than others
one of his most notable work was to write a book on Palestine
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid was published in 2006
it was first time that former US president was talking about apartheid
Palestinians has faced apartheid, death, and destruction for decades
this gave courage to many others to speak out on Israeli atrocities
of course, majority stayed quiet due to bribes from Israel Lobby or its fear
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com