Does Anybody Remember Or Study The Event In Iran November 4, 1979? This Day Marked The Beginning Of 444 Days Of The Western Hostage Crisis.

I was an E-5/Sgt at Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt, FRG, 5 months short and would fly back to the world and ETS in September.

LTC Vincent,

If Ronald Reagan was President instead of Jimmy Carter, our military would have "started bombing Iran in 15 minutes." (Reagan on national TV spoof).

What was amazing was how the Ayatolla Komeini in 1979 inspired men to commit this act against the US Embassy and to America.

I believe that the "few in policy" on both sides were warned that an event would elevate the Shahs US visit/asylum.

I believe that the attack on the US Embassy in Tehran was our first major 911 event in modern era.

My best guess would be...Ayatolla Komeini prayed 5 times a day, with at least one meal/daily.

While he was hell bent to get the ousted Shah to be extradited back to Iran from the US, followed by a public execution.

This set up a frenzi with the male populated local community college in Tehran.

This wave of people became a force multiplier and broke in the US Embassy and took hostages for the Shahs release.

Meanwhile, the Shah was hospitalized for a life threatening condition.

My question, could the Ayatolla Komeini have reverse his order of influence and empower his followers a different path? The outcome could have been any different?

I think Jimmy Carter was an honest, good man who was out of his depth when it came to being President.

Hi LTC Paul,

The failure of Operation Eagle Claw at Desert One may have been his tipping point for not being re-elected to President by the American people.

In hindsight and being in the military at that time, President Carter knew of our military capacity and related problems.

It was a post-Vietnam era, an all -volunteer force (VOLAR).

President Carter may have lost his re-election but he may have saved hundreds, if not thousands of American service members lives. Our country was not ready for another Vietnam.

He ok'ed strategic planning for the Defense modernization; new uniforms, weapon delivery systems such as tanks, vehicles, aircraft and more. These are all 5 year procurement and acquisition plans. I give him credit for that one.

So when Ronald Reagan was elected to President, he saw the opportunity to re-fit the military to fight and win wars.

In 1979 President Carter chose the non-military approach during the onset of the Hostage Crisis. The military option was not the best option at that time. A new Delta Force was established... in April 1980 its failure at Desert One launched a new era in the military.

When in the course of history can the US just butt out of a host nations business? Well in this case, Iran was favoring the Russian military machine and equipment deal and our CIA and British intel folks decided that this relationship was not favorable for the West. Hmmm so out goes the Nationalist Mossedeq and up appears a re-instated democratic supportive Shah of Iran. The Shah was the West's Cold War choice for America and the West. Was this event about oil, power or control? Maybe all three.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cia-assisted-coup-overthrows-government-of-iran