World: Self-Paralyzing Policy

History students for years to come may well read about the U.S.-Iranian relationship of the '60s and '70s as the case study of a policy that paralyzed itself. "The Iran dilemma" may even creep into the lexicon of political scientists who, with the benefit of hindsight, conduct post-mortems on the agony that the Carter Administration is now experiencing.

The dilemma is this: on the one hand, U.S. policy of all-out support for the Shah has discouraged both contact with and knowledge of the Shah's opposition. On the other hand, the nature of his opposition—which is deep rooted, wide spread and home grown—has...