alternatehistory.com

Otl, after the iranian revolution, the USA, under Carter gave Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the ousted Shah, refuge. Which went over poorly with the Islamic Republic. But what if we didn't? What if we approved the revolution, at least on paper. This would keep us away from Saudi Arabia over the 20th century and would leave us less likely to help them if Saddam did anything, assuming he was still in charge after the iran-iraq war, which would certainly see America helping the Iranians.

In fact, with us in with Iran and not Saudi Arabia, after 9/11, if it's not butterflied away, i'm willing to bet we go right for mecca. and a Saudi-Arabian war would likely be far, far easier than Iraq or Afghanistan, with Arabia's flat terrain and lacking infrastructure outside of Mecca and Medina.

Or we keep out of the ME other than Israel and Turkey. that works too.
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