After the discovery of oil, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company (now known as BP) was created, and for the next four decades Iranian oil fueled the British Empire. Since England didn't have another oil-producing colony, Iran's oil kept every British factory, home and car up and running. For its part, Iran received a mere 16 percent of the revenue.
When the British government refused to renegotiate a fair deal with Iran, Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the oilfields in 1951. But Britain would not let the loss of its most important resource go unanswered. By convincing the US government that an encroaching Soviet Empire was inching into Iran, the British got the Central Intelligence Agency to orchestrate a coup d'état. Two years after Iran took back its oil, the democratically elected Mossadegh was removed and replaced by the pro-western Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Over the course of his 25 years in power, the Shah terrorized his people, imprisoning and torturing tens of thousands of political opponents, while blowing millions on extravagant celebrations as his people lived in abject poverty.
Although the Shah protected British and America's oil supplies, the CIA realized that its meddling could have some repercussions. After the coup, the CIA coined the term "blowback" to describe the possible "unintended consequences" of its covert action. The 1953 coup is widely seen as having set the conditions for the 1979 Islamic Revolution. It is a consequence the US and Iran are still dealing with today.
Those that do harm to America are often simply fighting back against American oppressive foreign policy. The CIA overthrew Iran, then Iraq twice. It will not cease until we have a person like Ron Paul in an office where we can reverse those issues which are leading to the collapse of America.
It's The Blowback, Stupid! | Adbusters Culturejammer Headquarters
No comments:
Post a Comment