going.
nevertheless.
THE new Iranian government of Shapur Bakhtiar is frail and -UnCOVICE. Despite -maybe because of - the US administration's fulsome support, it has the backing of no important section of Iranian society outside the immediate entourage.
Half the Pahlavi clique has disappeared already - to its Beverley Hills mansions and its Alpine ski resorts. The Shah will join them soon leaving Bakhtiar with the slenderest of support.
The military is at best half-hearted. Key members of the tough faction in the army have resigned, led by General Oveissy, the 'Butcher Tehran'. As has so often happened, an utterly loyal imperialist-trained army proven less agile in its political allegiances than its masters.
The removal of the military regime and its replacement by these civilians is a success for the opposition. But the new government's commitment to the entire apparatus of the Pahlavi makes unacceptable to the masses.
Earlier this week they gave overwhelming support to two successive 'days of mourning' general strikes, respectively by the National Front and Ayatollah Khomeini.
To hear its leaders talk now, OTe would think that National Front had been the most intransigent monarchist party.
The reverse is true. It has always left the constitutional question open and until quite recently its leaders were in touch with the Shah. Only the pressure of developments on the streets kept them from reaching a deal.
It is an index of the Front's bankruptcy that until last week Bakhtiar was its deputy leader - the same Bakhtiar whom they are now all clamouring to condemn.
The Front sees a government of its own leaders as a possible successorto baknnar. In raris, Khomeini too has a governmental slate in mind.
none of the major spokespeople for the opposition have raised is the prospect of a constituent assembly - in other words that the regime which follows the Shah should be determined by the masses who overthrew him.
The only other practical options are that some religious SOMEHOW everyone expected it to happen more dramatically, but it does seem finally that the Shah is Quietly, ignominously, leaving a regency council behind him; no bullet between the eyes, no swish of the blade or twang of the gallows rope; but he is going For the Iranian people, however, the battle has hardly begun. In the coming days and weeks they will face increased intervention from the Western powers.
For capitalist interest group will seize government for itself. At best it would then ask the people to ratify LOT existing state of affairs.
The fight for a constituent assembly and alongside that Shah's of it called the Prime Minister SHAPUR I for a workers and peasants' ROVCTLHCRE iS 200C effective Way stop manoeuvres.
It is against this eventuality that the imperialist powers are stepping up their intervention in the region. have muted their overenthusiastic support dictatorship, are backing Bakhtiar and are looking to improve relations successors.
Diplomatic manoeuvres are accompanied by less savoury techniques of persuasion: an increase in CIA agents in the country and the despatch of a naval task force. A British naval frigate has already investigated the logistical problem by Abadan on a 'mercy' mission, taking off some 400 British nationals. A US intervention an already still cannot be ruled out, under the guise of defending the large American community in Iran. The Pentagon is anxious that it gets it right this time after the HOSE traumas of such Angola. Ine apparently having BIVCI support to the Somali regime in its war with Ethiopia last year The Americans — a taste of things to come?
the Already Iranian his possible and political as to most countries.
Imperialist socialists pondering docking at Iranian upsurge Moslem Shi'ite left.
Vietnam and White House straddle regrets not boundaries.
Turkey. worried by the impact of the Most obviously this has affected oil supplies to politically sensitive imperialist client states such as South Africa and Israel, as well major Western strategists and alike should be the impact Iranian events on Turkey. The was clearly part of the reason why Turkish right wingers have launched their attack on the country's The left is linked to Iran by religious and national consiYANKEE д°