I have no truck with tyrants. When you say "he ruled with an iron hand". That's wrong. Maybe that is why the Persians have lost their way.
So how doyou think the Taliban and the Ayatollahs are ruling?
The Shah was moving the country forward, the Islamist extremist governments are taking it back to the stone age.
REza Pahlavi:
"My goal is simple, achievable and straightforward. I envision an Iran: wherein its prosperous economy gives every Iranian an equal chance for hope and opportunity; An Iran where its women fully participate in the political, socio-economic and cultural life of their homeland; An Iran where its press is free from intimidation, harassment, imprisonment and torture; This vision includes a progressive, civil and stable society in which the separation of Religion and State is recognized. Finally, the Iran of tomorrow ought to have a foreign policy based on principles of harmony and mutual respect.
To get there however, Iranians seek a political system in which participation in free and fair elections are guaranteed for all freedom-loving individuals and political ideologies.
I have called for unity among all groups dedicated to a democratic agenda and outcome to work together for a common cause - the establishment of a democratic and secular government. I intend to lead this movement culminating in a national referendum, beyond this system, and with international supervision, as a means to guarantee freedom and self-determination for the people of Iran.
I am confident that momentum is building and I am certain that the world will witness a dramatic political evolution in my homeland. It is my hope that Iranians will benefit from all the moral support the world community of nations can demonstrate for our quest for liberty."
Doesn't sound like the goals of a "tyrant", does it?
http://www.rezapahlavi.org/index.htm
Read the history...he was dragged, kicking and screaming into the coup and then built his own gestapo to do his dirty work.
"I have no truck with tyrants"
What do you know about running a country? Anything?
Have you even tried running a large corporation? Most CEO's are more of a tyrant inside their organizations than the late Shah was with his country.
But then again, it takes knowledge to reach good analysis and opinions based on reality not emotion or philosophical "perfect world" mind sets. You appear to function on emotion rather than factual basis.
Again, that's your right of FREE expression but then you are getting, so to speak, what you pay for. :-))