Which covert operation undertaken by members of the United States intelligence community did us the most harm in the long run? That was the question posed a few days ago over on The Next Hurrah. In my view, the 1953 ouster of democratically-minded Iranian leader Mossadegh should top the list. Restoration of the Shah led to the Iranian revolution, which helped spread Islamic fanaticism.
One can take this point further. Many believe that the CIA aided the rise of Khomenei in the late 1970s, once they understood that the Shah could not maintain power. Our spooks considered an Islamic Republic preferable to the socialist alternative which had once seemed poised to take power in Iran after the Pahlavi dynasty fell. A region-wide religious resurgence had the potential of helping to undermine the Soviet Union -- or so it was once felt.
Of course, the boldest voices will tell you that worst crimes committed by our spooks were the assassinations of the 1960s.
I believe the ouster of Mossadegh was in 1953, not 1951. Oetherwise, I am mostly in agreement with everything in your post.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right: 1953. I will correct my post.
ReplyDeleteAh, Joseph. Only on this blog would we get an opinion on the worst American covert op. Sigh. Good times.
ReplyDeleteWe might also ask, "Did any covert operation engaged in by our intelligence community ever do us any good?"
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any, myself, but I'm not well-versed in this stuff.
Was there ever a worthwhile covert operation...? Lots of people would point to the CIA's role in helping to rescue the Dalai Lama. That must have earned at least a little good Karma.
ReplyDeleteA number of escaped Tibetans at that time were eventually relocated to a camp in Colorado, if I recall the story aright. They culture shock they must have experienced could make for a good movie one of these days.
Once, in one of my fanciful moods, I formulated the theory that American intelligence used these Tibetans to act as Men in Black, who were reported to have a vaguely Asian appearance and who seemed ill-at-ease in our society. But that theory is so very fanciful that I dare not mention it here.
So please pretend that you did not read the preceding paragraph.
hm. the cia helped rescue the dalai lama?? link, please.
ReplyDeletemeanwhile, i'd have to agree that the 1953 ouster of mossadegh has to win the prize, not just for its opening up the islamic fanaticism, but for setting the precedent for all the 'hits', economic and worse, that have come along since.
when will someone make the movie of that event, by the by?