The myth of the great Satan

"Understanding the troubled history of U.S.-Iran relations without examining its roots is impossible. The Islamic regime has partially defined itself by its anti-Americanism, making it an integral element of its historical provenance. As propaganda, anti-Americanism has been key to the regime's attempts to establish itself as the leader of the insurgent Islamic faith. The regime cannot forgo its banner of anti-Americanism or see itself as anything but in a stage of constant siege in a battle against satanically powerful foes. The founder of the Iranian regime, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, used the Qoranic moniker of The Great Satan to refer to America, as much as a show of intimidated awe as of embittered animosity at what he imagined as America's mythic omnipotence.^ In this book, Iran expert Abbas Milani offers a critical review of the history of America's relations with Iran and shows how little of the two countries' long and complicated relationship is reflected in the axioms of The Great Satan myth. Milani looks at U.S.-Iranian relations beginning in the early twentieth century, moving to the revolution of 1979 and on to the Iranian election of June 2009. Detailing the events