Islamic fundamentalism, as propagated by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah
Khomeini and currently by his heirs, imperils the new world order. The
ruling mullahs are using diplomacy, bribery, terrorism, and carefully
crafted propaganda to woo Muslim nations, especially the newly inde-
pendent Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union. This is
especially dangerous because Iran is seeking to acquire nuclear warheads
and intercontinental ballistic missiles from these republics.

Policymakers have too often overlooked threats until confronted
with a full-fledged crisis. One cannot afford this approach in dealing with
Tehran's brand of Islamic fundamentalism. The spread of pro-Iranian
regimes, backed by a nuclear-armed government in Tehran, would be a
disaster. We have to prevent that threat before it happens.

This book clearly defines the Khomeini form of Islamic fundamental-
ism and gives a well-documented, authoritative account of its history,
reasons for its appeal, and its frightening goals for the future. It also
presents a realistic policy to neutralize Tehran's campaign against
democracy and peace.

The book's strength is a reflection of the background and position of
the author, Mohammad Mohaddessin, who is a ranking member of the
People's Mojahedin of Iran. The Mojahedin derive their ideology from
Islam, as Khomeini did. But there the similarity ends. Unlike Khomeini
and his heirs, the Mojahedin believe in freedom, human rights, and
democratic values. The clash between the Mojahedin and the ruling
mullahs has been a war between two very different Islams.

In 1965, the Mojahedin formed an underground organization and
launched a battle for democracy against the shah's corrupt dictatorship,
losing hundreds of men and women in the course of that struggle or to the
shah's firing squads.

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