Bias or Fact

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Justin Windh

Mr. Robinson

English 2

4/30/07

Bias or Fact

America has buried itself in foreign government affairs many times in

history and for many reasons, claiming to civilize, liberate, or protect those we

occupy. We may not always have the most modest intentions, but is it possible that

our poking and prodding into affairs of other countries has gotten us where we are

today; faced with nations that literally hate and despise us? Stephen Kinzer seems

to believe so. In his book Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from

Hawaii to Iraq he mentions several cases where he feels that our government has

stuck their nose in places it does not belong and as a result our country has been

knocked for it. But it is not hard to distinguish whether or not he is being factual

in his conclusions or merely speculating. He has some pretty hard evidence

supporting his feelings. However Kinzer does lead into speculation about our past

presidents and their favoritism towards dictators.

In one such case, in chapter 9 of his book, Kinzer expresses how he feels

that operation Ajax resulted in the attacks on 9/11. Operation Ajax was a coup that

was conceived by the British and proposed to the U.S. in 1953. Its purpose was to

remove Prime minister Mohammed Mossadegh and sort of exchange him with

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Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The reason Mossadegh was overthrown was because he

felt Iran should profit from its oil reserves. In 1951 he nationalised the oil industry

which previously was controlled solely by the Anglo-Iranian Oil company, which

was a monopoly. With Mossadegh out of the way Anglo-Iranian Oil would return

to being a monopoly, the british would receive 40 percent of its shares and so

would the United States.

The point Kinzer makes is very clear when he says, "The role of the

United States in overthrowing Mossadegh and its long embrace of the shah led to

the rise of Anti-Americanism, a new phenominon in Iran" (Kinzer 200). Kinzer

can back this statement with a statement made by Supreme Court Justice William

O. Douglas. "When Mossadegh and Persia started basic reforms, we became

alarmed. We united with the British to destroy him; we succeeded; and ever since

then, our name has not been an honored one in the middle east" (Kinzer 200). Not

only does Kinzer support his claim with a statement from a Supreme Court Justice,

but also with words from Historian James A. Bill, "The U.S. intervention alienated

important generations of Iranians from America, and was the first fundamental

step in the eventual rupture of Iranian-American relations in the revolution of

1978-79" (Kinzer 201). Not many times does Kinzer venture into speculation