     To begin, some background: When Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
overthrew the shah of Iran in February 1979, he established the
first modern Islamist regime, one drawing on fascist and
communist methods but with the quite different goal of
implementing Islamic law (the Shari‘a). Like the Taliban regime
that later came to power in Afghanistan, the Khomeinists claimed
to have the answers to all life's questions. They created a
totalitarian order intent on controlling every aspect of Iranian
life domestically and spreading the revolution abroad.     In
reaction, Jimmy Carter hemmed like Bill Clinton and hawed like
John Kerry. He got bogged down in diplomatic details and lost
sight of principles and goals. For example, he responded in part
to the embassy takeover by hoping"to convince and to persuade
the Iranian leaders that the real danger to their nation lies in
the north, in the Soviet Union."  He responded to diplomatic
efforts like a technician:"It's up to the Iranians" to make the
next move, he said in lat