MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell didn’t realize what she was saying when she called Iran “was more or less an American ally.” The truth in what she said applies to a wholly different time period than the time she referred to.
Andrea Mitchell, outside history.
Mitchell did take a lot of heat for her remark that Iran was “more or less an ally” of the United States until Bush included Iran in “the Axis of Evil” speech (which put Iran with North Korea and Iraq) in the famous post 9-11 speech (January 29, 2002 State of the Union, excerpt).
But, obviously, the Iranian government has acted the role of an enemy of the United States since 1979, and the infamous hostage crisis. Bush had nothing to do with that. Mitchell is quite wrong if her reference is to Iran being an ally since that time.
And it wasn’t Bush that ‘messed it up.’ It was during the administration of Richard Nixon (and Henry Kissinger). Probably the best book on that account is James A. Bill’s The Eagle and the Lion: The Tragedy of American-Iranian Relations (New Haven: Yale University, 1988). Sandra Mackey tells the story quite simply, in The Iranians: Persia, Islam, and the Soul of a Nation (Dutton, 1996). Of course, the most meaningful of all accounts is that of Farah Diba Pahlavi, the Shabanou of Iran (wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi): An Enduring Love: My Life with the Shah (Miramax, 2004). Each record reveals the improprieties the United States inflicted upon Iran, for no sufficient reason, really. Some say the United States (CIA) created “the Shah” in 1953 because they say in him the leader they wanted. He was imposing and progressive. Finally, the street talk, or the peoples’ talk was that the Shah simply became too powerful, and that is why he was brought down in 1979. No one wanted him manipulating oil prices.
Yet, the trouble goes back even farther, even to World War II. At its beginning the Allies demanded that Iran remove German nationals from Iran for fear they were Nazi spies and would harm the British-owned oil facilities, but Reza Shah (father of Mohammad Reza) refused, declaring Iran’s neutrality and freedom from Nazi influence.
German demand for oil rose and the Allies expected Germany to ask Iran for help. Soon the Allies doubted Iranian neutrality and warned Reza Shah again to remove the German workers. He refused once again. In August 1941, the British and Soviet troops invaded Iran (Operation Countenance) and, in September 1941, forced Reza Shah Pahlavi to abdicate his throne. He was replaced by his son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, who was willing to fight the Axis powers. Within months Iran entered the war on the side of the Allies and became known as “The Bridge of Victory”.
I would say this was a memorable offense by the Western powers.
Mohammed Reza Shah and Farah, Shahbanou.
Truth is, astute Western leaders always recognized in Iran the only people in the Middle East that were fundamentally different from the maniacal Arab world. There was a natural affinity of Iran with the West, in some profound psychological, cultural way, despite the great distance, and the the iron cowl of Islam (which, before 1979, was not so lethal). The West scooped up Iran, as it were. There was an abundance of natural resources, such as oil and gas, and fresh water.
Iran had an ancient, continuous history, from Persia onward. The other countries in the east were all artificially created by the Western powers, and all over oil. Iran was its own place, from ancient times. The Aryan race was always one of the oldest segments of the white race in the history of man. Iran was some kind of hidden jewel in the East.
Ally? Iran was willing to cooperate. Iran, under Mohammad Reza Shah, was willing to progress. Many people believe he brought Iran too far, too fast, and the culture simply could not adjust. Old Islam was more familiar, and the Communism that went with it. Freedom and capitalism, at the rate the Shah was bringing them into Iran, were just too radical, too fundamental a change.
It was just before 1979, though, when special, almost personal insults came to Iranian by way of special privileges given to the important American community in Tehran. From conversations I’ve had with Iranians there, then, there was something known as “recapitulation.” These were civil ordinances which protected Americans, but not Iranian. For example, if, as an Iranian, you dog bit an American, you were in big trouble. If his dog bit you, you had no recourse. There were a thousand such insults afloat. This was not exactly American foreign policy, but circumstantial provision by big moneyed Americans. (Carter had been totally impotent to manage the crisis that followed, or so it seemed. Others believe the problem was so complex, with such a long history, Carter simply was not in a position to correct anything. Of course, the minute Reagan took office, the hostage crisis was over.)
It was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. Iranian people had taken a lot from their “American-owned Shah,” or so they saw it. They had a right to be miffed at America. Their country had been demeaned and betrayed one too many times. It was enough.
Yet, when I was in Iran, in 1999, the people of Iran, especially in the open country, in the villages, still love America. “Dr. Yeagley, go home and tell your people that we love America!” They were piquantly embarrassed by the “Death To America!” demonstrations in the Tehran. They knew those were paid demonstrators, and did not represent Iranian people.
And so American media delusion presses on. Andrea Mitchell is simply totally mistaken in her understanding, yet hovering over the truth of the situation. There is a definite affinity of the American and Iranian spirit. But, Islam has intercepted it, perverted it, and actually held Iran back from being the great nation it deserves to be. The mullahs think it protects their independence somehow, but, it isolates them, makes enemies for them, and hinders their ancient Persian humanitarian spirit. It has nearly rubbed it out.