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What if lets say the CIA had discovered the weakness of the Shah's regime in time? And had been able to convince Carter to strengthen the Marine-guard at the US embassy in Tehran? And this Marine-guard had been given free hands to protect the embassy and its staff at all costs? And lets say that this Marine-guard is able to hold of the attacks on the embassy with brute force for several hours, with massive casualties on the Iranian side. Al the while US Army helicopters during the first night is able to evacute the entire staff from the US embassy. An operation with only few calsualties on the US-side.