< Return to previous page

Title
Carpetbaggers Flying

Note
Published in "Cartoons", Saint John, NB: Telegraph-Journal, c1981

Issues
Iran-Iraq War (First Persian Gulf War), 1980-1988
The Iran-Iraq War was precipitated by aggression on both sides, although neither agrees on a precise date or event as the beginning of the war. The two nations had disputed over the exact border between them since they had become separate countries after the First World War. Antagonism had escalated as outside parties, namely the US and the USSR, exerted their influence in the region. Iraq launched an invasion of Iran on September 22, 1980, claiming that an assassination attempt on Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz had been orchestrated by Iranian agents. However, Iran’s embassy in London had been attacked by Iraqi terrorists a few months before. In August, 1988, both sides accepted a ceasefire proposed by the UN. No significant territorial gains had been made on either side and the major points of conflict remained unresolved.

Persons
Abolhassan Banisadr
- Born March 22, 1933
- 1980 became first elected President of Iran after the 1979 revolution
- Fell out of favour with former ally Ayatollah Khomeini after gaining presidency
- June 21, 1981 impeached by Iranian parliament
- Fled to France following a coup d'état soon after impeachment
Ayatollah Khomeini
- Full title Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini, born May 17, [1900?]
- Died June 3, 1989
- Shi'a Muslim cleric and marja
- Political and spiritual leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution
- Held office of Supreme Leader from the Revolution until his death
- Lead Iran through Iran hostage crisis, 1979 and Iran-Iraq War, 1980 to 1988
- Enforced strict Islamic law and dress code for both men and women
- Issued a fatwa calling for the killing of Salman Rushdie for writing the novel, "The Satanic Verses" (seen as blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad), 1989