In the months after the Shah was deposed, I was having a conversation with the Washington representative of the Seed Trade Association (as I recall it was called) about another area of interest and somehow the subject of Iran came up. He described how he'd been to Tehran while the Shah was still in power, but came back essentially recommending not doing business with Iran. He reached in file and showed me a report he had filed that detailed, in his view, how he thought the Shah was in trouble. When asked how he came to that conclusion, he said every taxi driver, shop keeper, etc. etc. he talked to were certain the Shah would be deposed. He went on to describe how our diplomats (and presumably the Agency) were talking to the wrong people, i.e. Iran's diplomatic core, other countries diplomats, etc., not the "real" folks on the ground. I think he was right. Somewhere buried in government files, a copy of that report lies, as he gave me a copy.
Sounds fascinating! I noticed a couple of copy errors eg “monring”—would like a chance to copy edit for you—please see my website, www.seedyhack.com, or www.robertdavey.com; and please check out my comment to Michael Isikoff re Jim Himes and Section 702. Have written twice in Village Voice and once in Penthouse on this—all three are at the site.
In the months after the Shah was deposed, I was having a conversation with the Washington representative of the Seed Trade Association (as I recall it was called) about another area of interest and somehow the subject of Iran came up. He described how he'd been to Tehran while the Shah was still in power, but came back essentially recommending not doing business with Iran. He reached in file and showed me a report he had filed that detailed, in his view, how he thought the Shah was in trouble. When asked how he came to that conclusion, he said every taxi driver, shop keeper, etc. etc. he talked to were certain the Shah would be deposed. He went on to describe how our diplomats (and presumably the Agency) were talking to the wrong people, i.e. Iran's diplomatic core, other countries diplomats, etc., not the "real" folks on the ground. I think he was right. Somewhere buried in government files, a copy of that report lies, as he gave me a copy.
Sounds fascinating! I noticed a couple of copy errors eg “monring”—would like a chance to copy edit for you—please see my website, www.seedyhack.com, or www.robertdavey.com; and please check out my comment to Michael Isikoff re Jim Himes and Section 702. Have written twice in Village Voice and once in Penthouse on this—all three are at the site.
Thx much, Robert. I noticed the typos right away after the newsletter went out and corrected them. I'll take a look at your site.