As an unprecedented popular uprising sweeps through Egypt, some have begun to talk about another famous middle eastern revolution: the Iranian revolution of 1979.
In 1978 Iran, opposition to the repressive US backed Shah who had ruled for nearly four decades became widespread, leading to riots, popular revolution and the Shah's forced exile in 1979. Islamic religious leaders were a strong presence on the streets, and after the Shah's ouster, exiled clergyman Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran and took a leadership role in the new government.
Khomeini established an Islamic Republic, which reveresed the westernization of Iran, tried and executed hundreds of the Shah's supporters, and eventually led to the Iran we know today. Some have compared the current situation in Egypt to the Iranian Revolution, warning that a power vacuum after Mubarak might lead to Islamist extremist factions rising to power. But many argue that this is not the case.
KBOO reporter Jenn Chavez spoke with Reese Erlich, foreign correspondent and author of two books: "The Iran Agenda-- The Real Story of the US Policy and the Middle East Crisis" and "Conversations with Terrorists: Middle East Leaders on Politics, Violence, and Empire."
- KBOO