government was bound to change. Strikes had brought productive
work in the country almost to a standstill. There were food short-
ages and power reductions. Ironically, the oil-rich country was
forced to buy heating oil from the United States. Gasoline was in
short supply, forcing automobile owners in Iran to wait in long
lines. Gangs of young militants confiscated cars and stole the gas.
Once the shah’s regime began to topple, it fell quickly. Despite
the reported discontentment in Iran, most outsiders assumed
that the government, backed by a large and sophisticated
military machine, was secure. The events of 1978 and 1979,
wrote political scientist Amin Saikal, “caught by surprise even
most of those said to be best informed, including the CIA,
for very few could foresee such a rapid collapse of the Shah’s
apparently well-entrenched and powerful administrative,
security, and military apparatus.”^27
It finally became obvious even to the shah, who could not under-
stand how matters had reached such a desperate crisis. Author
William Shawcross in his book The Shah’s Last Ridewrote:
Until only months before, the Shah had genuinely believed
that he was beloved by the Iranian people. Perhaps this meant
no more than that he believed the propaganda, the lies, and
the flattery of those who surrounded him; still, his belief had
been complete. But in the last twelve months the fury of the
entire nation had been aroused against him by an aged, exiled
cleric for whom he had only contempt. Suddenly the people,
his people, were expressing only loathing for all that he
had achieved in his thirty-seven years on the throne. It was
impossible for him to comprehend.^28
By the end of 1978, relatives and intimates of the royal family
were leaving Iran, taking what riches they could transport
quickly. Luxuriant homes were left empty; soon they would be
taken over by revolutionaries. The shah and his queen, Farah
Diba, were urged by the U.S. ambassador in Tehran to leave as
well. They began sending wardrobes and personal valuables by
the planeload out of the country.52 AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI
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