Editor,
The continued military threats from the Obama administration toward Iran are breathtaking in both their arrogance and hypocrisy. How many people know that the CIA overthrew a democratically elected prime minister named Mohammad Mosadegh in 1953?
Mosadegh was sent into exile for nationalizing the nation’s oil wealth. After Mosadegh was exiled, the tyrannical Shah was put into power by the Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration. The human rights abuses of the Shah never bothered successive U.S. presidents so long as he remained on friendly terms with the oil companies. The people of Iran eventually revolted against their tyrant in 1979 the same way the founders of this country revolted against the King of England in 1776. Today, not too many people with a clean conscience will accept the “do as I say, not as I do” approach to leadership. Unless the U.S. gives up its nuclear weapons and comes clean about its role in overthrowing Mosadegh, the Obama administration should keep silent.
Muhajir Romero
UNM student
