Loss of a Friend
Socialist Press1979 1979-01-24Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 3 →
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The fall of the Shah is an incalculable political and economic loss for imperialism.
After 1963 the Shah's regime was selected by US imperialism and then by the Wilson Labour government of 1964-70 to take over the police role of imperialism in the region.
Wilson's policy of withdrawal from East of Suez (enthusiastically supported by the Labour 'lefts') was based on a deal with the Shah that he would • take over Britain's policing role.
His troops, for instance, have intervened against the liberation movement in Dhofar, whose reactionary ruler was previously under British protection.
In return for this role, the Shah has been given free rein in internal political repression PHOTO: Andrew Wiard, Report Owen and sold the arms with which to carry it out.
The British government has sold him more tanks than are possessed by the British army:
Labour ministers like Fred Mulley, David Owen and Frank Judd have been especially strong exponents of this policy:
The Carter administration and the British Labour imperialists openly supported the Shah's tyranny to the bitter end in the name of "Western interests"