From Terror to Freedom by Mano Bakh

Author:Mano Bakh [Bakh, Mano]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

5

New Improved Training

Iran’s Source of Revenue Much had transpired during my hiatus away from Iran. Oil was still the main source of the country’s revenue. OPEC and its members had formalized their organization, requiring a two million dollar membership fee. Production quotas and guidelines were set up to support their club. Between 1961 and 1973, the membership had grown to include countries throughout the Persian Gulf and Africa. Together, they represented over two thirds of the international oil supply.

In the year 1971, during the OPEC conference held in Tehran, the Shah spoke about his views on the newly developed OPEC organization. His words paralleled my own thoughts on the subject:

“The oil cartels are controlling the huge empire of the world’s oil and I feel that this is the most anti- humanistic ruling that the world has ever seen. These cartels do not set any limits on their earnings, and they are complete strangers to the meaning of fairness. I feel the producing countries that are the owners of their underground wealth should themselves produce it, refine it, and transform it into products. The oil companies and others should come to countries, such as ours, only as buyers.” Of course, his suggestions were not considered, and the cartels continued

to control the world’s oil market and distribution. Personally, I agreed that if countries had to compete against each other with their sale of oil, competition would automatically keep the prices fair.

The Naval Faux Pas Iran is a large country. Its borders encompass an area that is equal to the size of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany combined, and it is an area slightly larger than Alaska. The landscape is diversified, ranging from high plateaus to mountain ranges, with vast plains bordering the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. Iran is one of the world’s most mountainous countries; the elevation extremes are from almost sea level to over 18,600 feet at the top of the Damavand Mountain in the northern part of Tehran. There are almost 3,400 miles bordering other countries and 1,500 miles of coastline in the Persian Gulf, Sea of Oman, and the Caspian Sea.

Along with the considerable range of elevations come drastic differences in temperatures. On my assignment in Khark Island, I was plagued by the oppressive heat and humidity of the southern region. However, when I returned to my country, I was pleased to be assigned to the Caspian Sea in the north, with its unique beauty and temperate climate. The weather was similar to what my wife and I had enjoyed in Monterey, California, during postgraduate school.

Upon arriving, I was placed in charge of providing and furthering the education of all enlisted personnel in the field of marine engineering.

My first mission in the north was to help the navy fix a major faux pas. As part of a plan to expand the Iranian Navy, the military had ordered many sophisticated ships from the United States, England, France, Germany, and Italy. These modern vessels were to be delivered in four years.

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