“ashes in the mouth.” It seems to me that this emotion can also be applied to America’s relationship with Iran for the thirty-five years between the end of World War II and the consolidation of the Islamic regime. The United States viewed Iran as essential to the security of the Western democracies, if not to the entire world; the Americans never intended harm to the Iranian people. That is America’s tragedy. Likewise, as the shah matured in his leadership, he, too, seemed to have only the best intentions for his country. That his magnificent dreams were never matched in reality is the tragedy of the Iranians. Knowing that so much good was intended by the two countries and yet that so much harm came from the relationship also leaves the taste of ashes in the mouth.
A waggish friend suggested that I begin this section by thanking the Iranian militants, “without whom this story would not have been possible.” I’m not going to go quite that far, but there are some wonderful people whose help significantly aided the production of this work. I am deeply grateful for their time, knowledge, energy, and friendship.
This work is a much amended and vastly improved expansion of an article I penned several years ago for the professional journal Studies in Intelligence, published by the CIA’s Center for the Study of Intelligence. Brian Latell, the center’s director at the time, urged me to put my experiences to paper before I left the Agency to add to its historical record. Succumbing to his importuning, I managed to produce a manuscript that was eventually transformed into publishable form by Studies editors Paul Arnold (for the classified edition) and Hank Appelbaum (for the unclassified edition). Since my retirement, Paul and Hank have generously continued to give their support and assistance on numerous occasions. I owe these three many thanks for giving me the idea of writing the story in the first place and for their help in turning me into something approximating an author.
I am likewise appreciative of Tom Cutler at the U.S. Naval Institute Press, who believed that my story was worth telling and supported my efforts to tell it. NIP production editor Kristin Wye-Rodney did a wonderful job shepherding the book from raw manuscript to finished work. Mindy Conner copyedited the manuscript, and her professionalism and standards of excellence are evident on virtually every page. This is a vastly superior work because of Mindy’s contribution, and I am grateful beyond words.
Many former Agency officers have found university campuses to be unfriendly, if not downright hostile, territory. I am extremely fortunate and thankful to have had the opposite experience. Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah has gifted me with the best job I’ve ever had and has made it possible for me to work with a truly outstanding faculty. Michael Donahue, my department chair, has my eternal gratitude for believing that I might be a reasonably decent teacher and perhaps even a scholar; Michael has unstintingly supported my work and encouraged me from my first day. Robert Burnett, president emeritus; Frank Butler, vice president for external affairs; Sara Conner, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty; and Joe Adams, dean emeritus, all warmly accepted me on the faculty and made me feel part of the Armstrong family. Many thanks to my exceptionally talented departmental colleagues for their comradeship and assistance, and to others on the faculty with whom I have worked on committee assignments and related endeavors. I particularly wish to acknowledge our department secretary, Linda Hansen, for her unlimited patience and unfailingly cheerful assistance, without which I would be eternally lost; and Hiskia Vanderley, our graduate assistant, who is as gracious as she is efficient (and a fine tennis player!).
Also greatly appreciated is Caroline Hopkinson of Armstrong’s Lane Library. Caro’s enthusiasm for my project was exceeded only by her professionalism and skill at tracking down published materials for this book. Likewise, Beth Dinnebeil of Lane Library labored in great good humor at the tedious task of locating photographs for the book as well as other useful resources. Their assistance was invaluable and I am very grateful to both for their help and friendship. Sue Brisk of SIPA-USA was quick to respond to my requests for unpublished photos; the results of her help appear in these pages.
Martin Elzy and his staff at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library kindly assisted this novice scholar in learning to use the resources at the library and provided much-needed assistance. I thank them sincerely for their labors.
I have no words to express my gratitude to the following for the information and insights they contributed by reviewing all or part of this text while in draft form: Ambassador Richard M. Helms; former undersecretary of state David Newsom; Capt. Gary Sick, USN; Gene Poteat, former senior CIA scientific intelligence officer and now president of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers; distinguished intelligence historian Jeffery T. Richelson of the National Security Archives, who not only reviewed selected portions of the draft and then the full document, but also was thoughtful enough to send to me a number of relevant documents and lists of others; and Capt. Richard A. Stratton, USN, a genuine American hero, who reviewed the final manuscript and provided critical insights and corrections.
Zbigniew Brzezinski reviewed the manuscript in full and portions of it a second time. He graciously consented to a candid interview that was especially meaningful to me personally as well as to the accuracy of this work. Ambassador L. Bruce Laingen, senior State Department officers Charles W. Naas and Henry M. Precht, and Mark J. Gasiorowski of Louisiana State University each read one or more drafts and never failed to respond promptly and with good humor when I pestered them (which was far too often) with numerous follow-up questions. Mark also kindly provided several exceptionally useful journal articles and other writings. It has been an honor to have met or corresponded and worked with each of these distinguished individuals and I am grateful beyond words for their assistance. It goes almost without saying that they contributed materially to the positive aspects of this book; any and all errors, whether of fact or interpretation, fall at my own doorstep, no matter how industriously I may try to find a scapegoat.
Sara Behling, an accomplished artist, creative photographer, talented potter, and distinguished teacher, merits very special mention and appreciation for her work on the maps and diagrams in this book. She not only labored diligently in return for absolutely no compensation, she had to put up with me in general. But then, she’s my cousin so she’s accustomed to this burden. I’m very proud of her.
I am particularly honored that one of America’s most outstanding public servants, Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia’s First Congressional District, agreed to write the Foreword. Representative Kingston brings the highest standards of personal and professional integrity to his office while faithfully serving the highest interests of the nation. His efforts in building and sustaining a strong military establishment are especially meritorious and deserve the gratitude of all Americans.
During the seventeen years I spent in the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, I had the unique opportunity to work with some of America’s most dedicated public servants. In acknowledging their friendship and support over the years, I also want readers to know that these men and women willingly make many sacrifices and endure countless hardships in the service of their country; they deserve the nation’s thanks and gratitude. Of the Agency officials I can mention, Richard L. Holm and Chris Frederick were role models and mentors (and are now, I am pleased to note, treasured friends) who taught me a great deal more about the intelligence business then either will probably acknowledge. Dick Holm is one of the Agency’s genuine heroes and it was a great privilege to have worked for him in Washington and overseas. There are many other valued friends and respected colleagues that I am unable to mention by name; I hope they understand how much I enjoyed working with them and how much I admire their professionalism.
