Operation AJAX: Roots of a Tree Grown in Distrust
Carter Matherly · 2013
President Truman made the above statement during his famous speech seeking congress to increase aid to Greece and Turkey whose economy would soon fail forcing their government to turn to communism for continued survival. Truman’s speech quickly formed the basis of US policy towards communism and those that threatened democracy (US History. 2012). This policy laid the groundwork of US international policy for decades to come. And just a few short years later President Eisenhower authorized the CIA, in conjunction with MI6, to carry out Operation AJAX (Ruehsen.1993). At the very heart of the operation sat an elected Prime Minister, newfound Iranian national pride, a power wary Shah, and a plot to overthrow democracy. Operation AJAX was a false flag operation intended to overthrow Iranian Prime Minister Mossadeq in favor of a monarchy that was extremely friendly to the US. The operation was considered a success when compared to its objective but, when compared to US policy and interests it was a horrible failure. Operation AJAX is arguably the focal point of almost half a century of soured Iranian-US relations. The Operation In late 1952 representatives of MI6 and the CIA met to discuss future warfare and involvement in Iran. During the two month discourse MI6 mentioned their interest and the possibility of overthrowing Iran’s Prime Minister Mossadeq. The CIA surprised by the suggestion and completely unprepared for such a topic agreed to study the situation further before committing to such an action (Wilbur.1954). Even though the CIA played a very small roll supporting General Batista’s 1952 coup it was not, and had not been, in the business of overthrowing governments (Lewis.1960). In fact the CIA had never attempted to overthrow a government before; this would be a first for the clandestine agency (Iran Chamber Society.2001). The first communication for approval of such