Oriental Rugs the O'Connell Notes

Notes on the Ayatollah Khomeini

The Ayatollah Khomeini was an important cleric but was not yet of the highest level when in opposition to the Shah he rose to national prominence. He opposed Mohammed Reza Shah on the subjects of land reform and the rights and role of women. Exiled first to Turkey then Najaf in Iraq, and later to France.Outside of the control of the Shah and Savak his secret police Khomeini rallied opposition to the Shah from the relative safety of France.

Ayatollah Khomeini
Time Magazine Aug. 17, 1987

The Ayatollah Khomeini was an important cleric but was not yet of the highest level when in opposition to the Shah he rose to national prominence. He opposed Mohammed Reza Shah on the subjects of land reform and the rights and role of women. Exiled first to Turkey then Najaf in Iraq, and later to France.Outside of the control of the c and SAVAK his secret police Khomeini rallied opposition to the Shah from the relative safety of France.

After 13 years of Exile he returned home to return the government of Iran to the Iranian people.

Born Ruhollah ibn Mustafa Musawi Khomeini Hindi in the town of Khomeine near Qum. In the west we call him Ayatollah Khomeini. In Iran he was the Imam.

Ayatollah Khomeini was the spiritual mentor, close friend, and associate of Former President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, upon whom he depended greatly.

"882. Ayatollah Khomeini, at first imprisoned and later under house detention in connection 1963 Moharam riots and widely regarded as leading contender for position of Shia paramount leader, was released April 5 and returned to religious center of Qom. Press giving minimum play. [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] reports (1) millahs flocking to Qom from all over Iran to "kiss hands", and (2) one tank battalion concentrated Qom outskirts as precautionary measure. No info whether Khomeini reached agreement with govt regarding any restriction on his future activities. Embassy [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] contacts with good connections in religious community view release as victory for Khomeini but also as wise policy decision by regime in preparation for Moharam, period of deep mourning starting May 13" FRUS 1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)

"Prime Minister "Mansur allowed it to be understood he had had difficulty persuading Shah that Khomeini should be freed." FRUS 1964-68, Vol. XXII, Iran (b)

Much is made of Ayatollah Khomeini's looks, always in a negative light. The remarkable thing is how much he looks like Sir Sean Connery who is considered handsome, dashing, sexy, etc... Our press in the US feels compelled to cast anything Iranian in a negative light.

Ayatollah Khomeini

Khomeini as a young man
www.iranchamber.com/.../ ayatollah_khomeini.php

 Critics blast the Ayatollah Khomeini for seizing the US Embassy. The truth is even more interesting. A ultra-violent terrorist group MEK or Mujaheddin-e-Khalq with ties to Richard Perle and Fox News actually instigated the Embassy takeover. The Ayatollah Khomeini did not stop them for a long period of time but he was not the instigator.

The terrorism charge is thornier. The US began economic warfare and what can best be described as "Cold War" style warfare against the Islamic Republic. By aiding Saddam Hussein and thwarting Iran's ability to buy arms to defend it's self against Iraqi aggression the US bears a high degree of culpability in the deaths of more than 300,000 Iranians. It is thought that Khomeini was complicit in a series of comparatively minor attacks on US interests. Even today Pro-Likudniks in Washington agitate for war with Iran even though there has been no Terrorism against the US from Iran for many many years.


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Oriental Rugs the O'Connell Notes
Copyright Barry O'Connell 2004 - 2008.
Last revised: February 01, 2008.