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of course, whenever Rhodesia counter-attacks, it is condemned in the
United Nations.
Smith put a lot of blame on the leaders of the neighboring l!front
line" states for blowing the cover on his secret talks with Nkomo.
These leaders do not want a peaceful solution, are backing the
guerillas full-tilt, and are abundantly opposed to Rhodesia's whites
having any role whatsoever in a future black-majority government.
Smith said that Tanzania's President Julius Nyrere -- admired in
many circles as almost a god-figure among Africa's leaders -- is
larqely to blame for the latest sad turn of events. Nyrere helped
torpedo his talks with Nkomo, Smith said, because of his "implacable
hatred of the white man." Meanwhile, because of the intensifying
warfare, the exodus of whites out of Rhodesia grows greater every
month.
Space does not permit a detailed description of the turmoil gripping
Nicaragua -- except to say that the effort to topple President
Anastacio Somoza is now being led by urban leftist guerrillas of the
so-called Sandinista National Liberation Front. True to form in case
after case in other revolutions, the netter organized Marxists have
stepped in to lead the fight which originally began as a broad-based
discontent uniting many factions from businessmen to students. Many
now fear that Nicaragua will become another Cuba.
Turning to Iran, this pivotal oil-rich nation is experiencing its
worst riots""ever in the 37-year reign of its current Shah, Mohammed
Reza Pahlavi. After nearly a year of sporadic protests, demonstra
tions and isolated terrorist attacks, full-scale street battles have
erupted in the wake of the imposing of martial law in Teheran and 11
other cities in an attempt to restore order. It is clear now that the
Shah is locked in a desperate struggle to hold his throne. The big
question is whether Iran's armed forces will stay loyal to the Shah
-- or take power into their own hands.
The Shah is opposed by a loose union of anti-government factions.
On the one hand are the Shah's leftist and liberal opponents who
want to see rapid political change in the country. This faction
includes numerous leftist underground terrorist groups with possible
Soviet backing.
On the other hand are arch-conservative Moslem leaders of the tradi
tional Shiite sect -- backed by hundreds of thousands of followers -
who demand the Shah's overthrow in the name of religion and a return
. .
to government by Islamic law. They oppose the Shah's ongoing social
liberalization programs aimed at loosening the Moslem �lergy's tra
ditionally firm grip on the country. Such reforms include a plan to
redistribute church lands to farmers and give more social and political
rights to women. (Rapid material growth fueled by Iran's $23 billion
a-year oil revenues has eroded old traditions and promoted moderni
zation and Westernization in the country.)
Iran's chief Moslem leader, exiled Ayatollah Khomeini -- whom many
Moslems would like to see in charge of the nation instead of the Shah
-- proclaimed recently from his headquarters in Iraq: "There will be
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