Clinton+S.

=**May 10, 2010 - Preliminary research**=

Please post the following items:


 * Working thesis statement:**

The Iranian revolution, American interference in foreign internal conflict, and overall weak national leadership make it apparent that The Iranian hostage crisis was, not only dominantly America's fault to begin with, but a result of America's weakness as a nation and inability to do what is necessary.


 * bibliography :**

Working Paper outline"

I. Introduction

A.Openeing statement. 1. Question, or general statement regarding the topic

2. After many years of indifference and no conflict between the two countries, a civil war errupts in the country of Iran. The U.S taking sides in the civil conflic would lead to a revolution in the counrty, and the U.S being brought into the the conflict leading towards the infamous, hostage crisis of the late 70's early 80's.

3. The Iranian revolution, American interference in foreign internal conflict, and overall weak national leadership make it apparent that The Iranian hostage crisis was, not only dominantly America's fault to begin with, but a result of America's weakness as a nation and inability to do what is necessary.

II. History A. U.S conflict 1. Summary of what was going on in the U.S before the time of the crisis. B. Iranian history 1. History of the country and previous conflicts leading up to the situation in the country. 2. The civil war conflict happening in the country and US involvement with the complications.

III. The crisis A. The events of the Iranian hostage crisis. 1. How the crisis began. 2. The series of events that happened during the year of captivity from the point f view of one of the hostages, part 1. 3. The home front and how the nation of the United States reacted to the crisis. 4. The happening s in the point of view of one of the hostage’s part 2. 5. The United States count down and measures taken to resolve the issue and stop the crisis. 6. The end of the crisis in the point of view of the hostage.

IV. The aftermath A. How the crisis effected the hostages long –term 1. The effects of the crisis had on the hostages in later life. 2. The effect it had on the families 3. The measures and moves the families made to remedy the situation.

V. The Legacy A. The legacy that the crisis left 1. How the crisis affected the relationship of the United States and Iran. 2. What other major events in history did the Iranian hostage crisis lead to. 3. The relation ship between his two countries today.

VI. Conclusion A. The paper conclusion. 1. A brief summary of everything that was stated above. 2. What moves that could be made to resolve the issue. 3. Thesis statement.

What is the real cause of war? Is because of the petty nature or natural savagery of man? Is it the weakness of the leaders of a country or the country itself? Or is it necessary for war to realize what true peace is? Since the beginning of time people have fought over things like, territory or money. As the centuries have gone by and the people have gotten more sophisticated and wars have gotten more deadly not only for the soldiers but for the people of the country involved. Countries have gone from allies to bitter enemies and vise versa not only through wars but through the many crisis and tensions that happen between the wars and as a result of war. Two prime examples of this would be the conflict between the United States and the country of Iran. After the Vietnam War the two countries were allies until the American leaders interfered in the civil conflict that was occurring in the county between the previous leaders and the revolutionaries. This interference would lead to the infamous Iranian hostage- which in turn -would lead to a legacy of bitterness and hate between the two countries. The Iranian Revolution, American interference in foreign internal conflict, and overall weak national leadership make it apparent that The Iranian hostage crisis was not only dominantly America’s fault to begin with, but a result of America’s weakness as a nation and inability to do what is necessary.

After the infamous World War 2, The United States and The Soviet Union were the two great powers of the world. Unfortunately, both sides represented a very different way of life: communism and democracy. It is no surprise that the two nations clashed. Around this time The U.S developed a policy called containment where they would attempt to “contain” communism and stop it from spreading. In the same frame of mind the Soviet Union made moves to spread communism throughout Europe. The Americans moves against the Soviet Union, mainly the Marshall Plan, which stated that they would aid Europe in their struggle against The Soviet union, would fully kick off American involvement in the cold war against the U.S.

Another Lurking problem was the civil war rising in China against the Nationalists led by Chiang Kaishek and the communists led by Mao Zedong. The American interference in Chinese politics would lead to the Korean War. During the Cold war there was a “red scare” across America where many people were arrested for being communists. This scare revealed the weakness and paranoia of America and the Soviet Union as they indirectly competed against each other in ways such as: The space race and the race for the H-bomb. The Cuban missile crisis was also a major conflict during the first age of the cold war.

The longest wars in American history The Vietnam War, would take place in the first cold war. That war would be regarded as one of the most renowned failures of the United States and the Fall of Saigon, North Vietnam winning the war of South Vietnam, is the close. This was a direct example of the Failing U.S military and decisiveness in loosing a war, they had no business in fighting in the first place, and killing hundreds of thousands of people in the process.

The Nixon Watergate Scandal and the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan would bring an end to what is referred to as the first cold war (1962-1979).

The cold war is split into 2 sections; the first and second cold war. The second Cold war would start up in 1979 when the tensions would one again rise between the two world powers, to an all time high. At the time of the first cold war, Iran and the United states were allies, but that would all change due to the crisis taking place at the wake of the second cold war in 1979.

The Watergate scandal had shown the corruptive American government and its inability to keep its own country in check, let alone contain communism and spread democracy. It is this weakness of the Government that will show through.

At the time of the Iranian Hostage crisis, the United States was going through a multitude of national problems in the country, such as: the oil crisis, inflation, and the presidential scandal. Even with The Vietnam embarrassment America had been known as one of the great world powers at the time, with strong economic and military strength, although it wasn’t. David Farber said it best when he said: “The event (Iranian Hostage Crisis) was an obvious symbol, and easily understood example of the nation’s inability to control its own fate, maintain its dignity, and pursue its independent course in the world. The United States could not protect its own people, it could not get them out of harm’s way, and it could not bring them out of harm safely. Had America really become this pitiful ‘Giant’, first defeated by the ragtag armies of Vietnam and then stymied by a bunch of fanatical student hostage takers who-with complete Impunity-burned the American flag and screamed “Death to America!”

“As Americans watched the Hostage crisis unfold, most became increasingly certain of one thing: the United States had lost it’s way: economically, culturally, politically, and even militarily”

The United States lost 8 American soldiers in an aborted attempt to rescue the hostages. What does that say about the Government of the U.S? What does that say about its people and the military force of the country?

The recent Chaos in the united states including; Watergate and the fall of Saigon, President Jimmy Carter was elected to office as the nation’s 39th president in 1977. His administration was primarily responsible for the weakness in controlling the Iranian Hostage crisis. His televised toast to the Shah would lead to disastrous results by the revolutionaries in Iran.

Before the Hostage Crisis, Iran had been experiencing a civil war between their current ruler, the Shah, and revolutionaries looking to overthrow the government. Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, The “Shah of Shahs” had overthrown the nationalist prime minister, Muhammad Mossadegh in 1953, and that’s were the revolution began to come into fruition. The revolutionaries had managed to drive the Shah out of Iran, but America had fully supported the Shah and in a foolish mistake that took the current Shah into the country inflaming the people of Iran. One of the Young Iranian Militants would say: “By allowing the Shah to enter the U.S. the Americans have started a new conspiracy against the revolution.”

On November 4, 1979 at around 9:00 am, according to the Diary of Robert C. Ode, from 300 to 500 students, The Muslim Student followers of Imam’s Line lead by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, broke into an American embassy and took 52 Americans, only six, not included in the 52, escaped. They demanded the immediate release of the Shah, but Carter refused leading to a 444 day stand off with numerous failed attempts to save the hostages, one example being Operation Eagle claw.

Operation Eagle claw failed when one of the six helicopters sent to Iran experienced a hydraulics failure causing the mission to have to abort.

Everyday Americans would watch and wait as the hostages remained in Iran. There was a countdown on the televisions as each day went by, and the protests and demonstrations against the crisis were large in number. On later accounts the Iranians would claim to have treated the hostages as guest, but some hostage accounts would say that they were treated rather badly. Robert C. Ode in particular wrote of an incident where they pretended an execution to scare some of the hostages for fun. One the day of capture the hostages were paraded around in blindfolds and revealed to public and paparazzi.

On January 20, 1981, after 444 days in captivity, The Americans were released into U.S custody. On their return home the hostages were given gifts and received a hero’s welcome. The crisis was an overall failure for Iran. During the cold war, they had come into to conflict with Iraq and the hostage crisis had taken away Iran’s international support. Not only that, but they hadn’t gained any of their original demands for the crisis in the beginning. With that being said, Anti-Americanism flourished primarily in Iran and the weakness in American government, economy, and it’s military ineptitude was stating to show face, and would be one of the causes in the ongoing Iraq-American war.

Throughout the years From the Revolutionary war to the World wars of the 20th century, America was always seen as a growing World power with superiority in economy, government, and military. As the century pulled into its half-way mark with the cold war, America has slowly deteriorated in every way. From the current recession in the economy, to the thousands of dying troops fighting in a desert against angry Muslim people for no purpose. The Iranian hostage crisis was the rift to America’s downfall as it had shown the weaknesses of the country, and its inability to protect its people. Had America not interfered in Vietnam and Iran, two civil political struggles having nothing to do with the United States. It could have avoided the thousands of deaths and embarrassments it had faced. The Iranian Revolution, American interference in foreign internal conflict, and overall weak national leadership make it apparent that The Iranian hostage crisis was not only dominantly America’s fault to begin with, but a result of America’s weakness as a nation and inability to do what is necessary.