[Marxism] A touching appeal from an old friend

[Louis Proyect]

Shawn Redden wrote:
> <http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Fighting+tears%2C+shah%27s+son+calls+crisis+a+%27moment+of+truth%27++-+CNN.com&expire=-1&urlID=405400667&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2009%2FWORLD%2Fmeast%2F06%2F22%2Firan.crown.prince%2Findex.html&partnerID=211911/>
> 
> Fighting tears, shah's son calls crisis a 'moment of truth'
> 
> By Elise Labott
> CNN State Department Producer
> 
> WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The son of the former shah of Iran called Monday 
> for solidarity against Iran's Islamic regime, warning that the 
> democratic movement born out of the election crisis might not succeed 
> without international support.
> 
> "The moment of truth has arrived," Reza Shah Pahlavi said at 
> Washington's National Press Club. "The people of Iran need to know 
> who stands with them."

It must be added, however, that the clerics running Iran today were only 
able to take advantage of the openings in 1979 because the Shah 
preferred to hammer the left rather than them.

In fact, the clerics were one of the main blocs that collaborated with 
the CIA to overthrow Mossadegh.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abol-Ghasem_Kashani

Ayatollah Seyyed Abol-Ghasem Mostafavi Kashani was a prominent Twelver 
Shi'a Muslim cleric and former Parliament Minister of Iran.

Political allies against the Shah and the British at first, Kashani and 
Mossedeq parted ways in 1953 after the emergency powers granted to 
Mossedeq by the Majlis were extended for 12 months and Mossedeq 
instituted secular reforms. By withholding his support, Kashani played a 
crucial role in the success of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état that 
overthrew Mossedeq. Following his break with Mossedeq, he gave support 
to his former adversary, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. and even declared 
that Mosaddeq deserved to be executed because he had committed the 
ultimate offense: rebelling against the shah, `betraying` the country, 
and repeatedly violating the sacred law."