In the following paper I will attempt to use multiple sources and a wide variety of opinions to form a conclusion of whether or not the 1953 Iranian Coup d’état was successful from a geopolitical perspective. We will sift through multiple historical accounts weighing the pros and cons of and the repercussions of the 1953 coup, the benefits, and the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Additionally we will review two CIA documents: the first, a synopsis events before and during TPAJAX, “The Wilber Report” written by Donald Wilber who was one of the lead agents in Iran during the Coup; and lastly the CIA's internal publication of “The Tudeh Party: Vehicle of Communism in Iran,” a statistical analysis of the Tudeh parties capabilities
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After Operation Ajax deposed of “Mohammed Mossadegh a titan of a man” in 1953 and established the Reza Shah until the 1979 Islamic Revolution erupted shaping the future of Middle Eastern conflict. Kinzer relies on the primary source of Dr. Donald Wilber, the lead agent during TPAJAX, in “The Wilber Report,” a complete historical account of CIA operatives in Iran throughout the duration of the 1953 Coup d’état. In the Wilbur Report, it is concluded that “Iran was in real danger of falling behind the iron curtain.” Additionally the report states that the only logical course of action is to install a pro-western demagogue. Lastly in the Wilber Report clandestine entities saw: “no remedial action other than the covert action plan set forth [Operation Ajax] could improve the existing state of affairs.” Kinzer uses further backing from Kermit Roosevelt’s memoir, Countercoup: The struggle for control of Iran, his personal account of the …show more content…
Donald Wilber, one of TPAJAX chief operation’s planners, wrote his after action report (AAR) on the operation’s successful overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadeq and subsequent establishment of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as Shah. "CIA, Report, Clandestine Service History: Overthrow of Premier Mossadeq of Iran: November 1952 - August 1953, March 1954, Secret, CIA," simply known as the Wilber Report was published by the New York Times (NYT) in November 2000. The importance of the Wilber Report once and for all assumed responsibility for the 1953 Coup d’état. The concern for spreading communism is expressed by the Secretary of State’s press conference of July 28 1953: “The growing activities of the illegal Communist Party in Iran and the toleration of them by the Iranian Government has caused our government concern…” The Wilber Report further explains the complexities of TPAJAX and how despite looking for alternative solutions the final decision to conduct the Coup d’état was the only solution. With the existence of a clear communist threat and the danger to losing one of the United States greatest allies, the British, Wilber states in reference to lessons learned from TPAJAX: “The lesson here is clear. As in the larger world picture, US-UK interests and activities must be coordinated. [5]” The joint operation would successfully overthrow Mossadeq. Mossadeq’s overthrow led to British control of Iran’s petroleum and a strong pro-western nation successfully ceasing
After Operation Ajax deposed of “Mohammed Mossadegh a titan of a man” in 1953 and established the Reza Shah until the 1979 Islamic Revolution erupted shaping the future of Middle Eastern conflict. Kinzer relies on the primary source of Dr. Donald Wilber, the lead agent during TPAJAX, in “The Wilber Report,” a complete historical account of CIA operatives in Iran throughout the duration of the 1953 Coup d’état. In the Wilbur Report, it is concluded that “Iran was in real danger of falling behind the iron curtain.” Additionally the report states that the only logical course of action is to install a pro-western demagogue. Lastly in the Wilber Report clandestine entities saw: “no remedial action other than the covert action plan set forth [Operation Ajax] could improve the existing state of affairs.” Kinzer uses further backing from Kermit Roosevelt’s memoir, Countercoup: The struggle for control of Iran, his personal account of the …show more content…
Donald Wilber, one of TPAJAX chief operation’s planners, wrote his after action report (AAR) on the operation’s successful overthrow of Prime Minister Mossadeq and subsequent establishment of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi as Shah. "CIA, Report, Clandestine Service History: Overthrow of Premier Mossadeq of Iran: November 1952 - August 1953, March 1954, Secret, CIA," simply known as the Wilber Report was published by the New York Times (NYT) in November 2000. The importance of the Wilber Report once and for all assumed responsibility for the 1953 Coup d’état. The concern for spreading communism is expressed by the Secretary of State’s press conference of July 28 1953: “The growing activities of the illegal Communist Party in Iran and the toleration of them by the Iranian Government has caused our government concern…” The Wilber Report further explains the complexities of TPAJAX and how despite looking for alternative solutions the final decision to conduct the Coup d’état was the only solution. With the existence of a clear communist threat and the danger to losing one of the United States greatest allies, the British, Wilber states in reference to lessons learned from TPAJAX: “The lesson here is clear. As in the larger world picture, US-UK interests and activities must be coordinated. [5]” The joint operation would successfully overthrow Mossadeq. Mossadeq’s overthrow led to British control of Iran’s petroleum and a strong pro-western nation successfully ceasing