Mission to Iran

by William H. Sullivan

Book Overview

Ambassador Sullivan tells of his many meetings with the shah and gives a unique insight into the character, the moods, and the motivations of that complicated man. He explores the political, economic, and social backgrounds of the opposition to the shah, and in doing so shows us the force of Islam in Iranian society and the flat impossibility of the shah's attempts to industrialize the country. Other highlights of this eminently readable narrative...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393333876
• ISBN13: 9780393333879
• Release Date: November 1981
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

An Important Perspective

Most books written about the Iranian revolution by the members of the Pahlavi government and the American government have a healthy dose of finger pointing and blame avoidance, and this book is no exception. Ambassador Sullivan's finger pointing may be a bit more justified than most, however, as his orders from Washington were, as the book makes clear and as other accounts corroborate, quite muddled. Whatever the flaws of the book, it is still a great read from an inside player about how the revolution occurred, and how caught off guard the American establishment was. A good read from a valuable perspective.

Sullivan explains alot and helps reveal americas hand

This book is very useful in gaining a picture of elements of the revolution in 1979. The author takes observations and uses them to conclude and explain issues. It's now 2009 now and after 30 years this is why Iranians still have no clue what they did. A little heart felt wisdom would have really helped Iranians so much. After reading this book and speaking with many Iranians, I think they would be well advised to become better educated regarding the definition of words. Dictator would be the first word I would encourage every Iranian to learn the meaning of. Dictators don't make their decisions based on the advice of the consensus of their team like the shah did, they aren't primarily focused on increasing the freedom of those they serve like the shah did (according to Aristotle they serve their own good only), so dictators don't pay for the living expenses and university education of over 100,000 Iranians that studied in the US and Europe. Dictators don't center their entire lives on helping people have the possibility to enhance their lives for example by growing the economy of Iran to 5 times that of Turkeys in 1979 (unlike today where it's economy is only 40% the size of Turkeys after 3 trillion dollars in Oil Revenue). Dictators do build 100,000 square feet palaces for themselves. Saddam built over 20 in just 30 years and the shah didn't even build one. Hitler even had an eagles nest commissioned. I guess between building mines, steel mills, hospitals, public courts and schools he realized the people he loved needed freedom more than he needed a palace. Instead of debating amongst each other, when Iranians realize what a dictator is and is not, their comments will make more sense and not be based on ignorance but based on wisdom. This knowledge is essential when reading this book, because it clarifies the blind spot many Iranian readers have. Maybe they would then figure out why the media invented the label of dictator for the shah as well as others like a megalomaniac, a villain, a crook. The west used Iranians biggest blind spot, their ignorant, naive elite and masses to humiliate the Shah because they were against the freedom he had brought to Iran. The West purposely betrayed the Shah and his country. This book really helps you see the shahs democratic friends worshiped money more than democracy or humanities spiritual journey as you can see from the results of betraying the shah. To think the USA, the shahs so-called ally wouldn't even supply the shah with tear gas or plastic bullets or any equipment to peacefully stop demonstrations on the one hand and then used their own media and other tools of soft power to topple the shah by inflaming Iranians about crimes that they new never existed. Carter knew the truth about the shahs respectable human rights record. Shame on America. Shame on Carter. Ultimately by reading between the lines a reader with heartfelt wisdom can realize the disgraceful values America upholds