Re: Iran
Des #15. I agree with the first half of your post re. USA intervention in Iran.* However, it started back in 1925 with the British*and Russian intervention to depose the then current Shah which led to the takeover of the late Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi's father, Reza Pahlavi, to become the first of two Shahs of the Pahlavi "Dynasty".
Raza was a peasant born in what is today Azerbaijan, who moved into Iran as a youth and joined the army as a private raising through schemes*to be a brigadier general he caused a coup and seized power (with the aid of the British and French) and became prime*minister,* as the prime minister and it was just a short step to declare himself Shah and founder of the Pahlavi Dynasty..* Pahlavi was an adopted name. His father's*previous*surname was*Knah*so Khan Khan would be as funny as if Charles King became King King.
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the second and last of the Pahlavi "Dynasty".
I never met the Shah, but I met first with his brother, discussing my program to operate the two Italia line ships.* He said to me as he was picking his nose while he was talking to me.* "He said "Of course*you understand Mr. Mills, you will not make a profit operating these ships for us." rolling his waste into a ball.* I tried not to heave in front of royalty and didn't take my eyes off him in case he flicked it at me, no worries his hand went beneath his desk for a moment. I said to him.*"Your highness". If we are not turning a profit after the first week of operations, I will be on the first plane back to the USA,"*That sort of put an end to any further conversations.
*My next brush with "royalty" came aboard*the Michelangelo.* We were in the startup phase with the Iranian Navy and were supposed to have trained people in catering operations available.* I got a bunch of conscripts shipped in from the villages of Iran that had never worn shoes or pants,*seen or used a flush toilet, or washed solid*material made*floors.* I was on my hands and knees teaching*these sons of farmers how to scrub a deck when I saw a pair of men's and lady's shoes, it was the crown prince and his wife. I dropped my scrubbing brush as he said, "Mr. Mills.?"* *I stood and I stuck out my hand and he automatically shook hands with me, hand, soap suds, dirty water and all. He thanked me for the wonderful weekend he and the princess had aboard the Michelangelo then wandered off, probably wishing I was Iranian so he could have had me shot.
Chers, Rodney
Last edited by Rodney Mills; 14th January 2024 at 06:43 PM.
Rodney David Richard Mills
R602188 Gravesend