On this day in 1953, the U.S. and British governments initiated a coup d'état against the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh. Mosaddegh had been preparing to nationalize Iran's British-owned oil fields.
Mosaddegh had sought to audit the documents of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC), later re-named British Petroleum, and to limit the company's control over Iranian oil reserves. When the AIOC refused to cooperate with the Iranian government, the parliament voted to nationalize Iran's oil industry and to expel foreign corporate representatives from the country.
In response, the British began a worldwide boycott of Iranian oil to pressure Iran economically and engaged in subterfuge to undermine Mosaddegh's government.
After considering military action, Britain opted for a coup d’état. President Harry Truman rejected the idea, but when Dwight Eisenhower took over the White House, he ordered the CIA to embark on one of its first covert operations against a foreign government.
The coup was led by an agent named Kermit Roosevelt, the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt. The CIA leaned on a young, insecure Shah to issue a decree dismissing Mossadegh as prime minister. Kermit Roosevelt had help from Norman Schwarzkopf’s father: Norman Schwarzkopf.
The CIA and the British helped to undermine Mossadegh’s government through bribery, libel, and orchestrated riots. Agents posing as communists threatened religious leaders, while the US ambassador lied to the prime minister about alleged attacks on American nationals.
Some 300 people died in firefights in the streets of Tehran.
Mossadegh was overthrown, sentenced to three years in prison followed by house arrest for life.
The crushing of Iran’s first democratic government ushered in more than two decades of dictatorship under the Shah, who relied heavily on US aid and arms. The anti-American backlash that toppled the Shah in 1979 shook the whole region and helped spread Islamic militancy.
After the 1979 revolution President Jimmy Carter allowed the deposed Shah into the U.S. Fearing the Shah would be sent back to take over Iran as he had been in 1953, Iranian militants took over the U.S. embassy–where the 1953 coup was staged–and held hundreds hostage.
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I read every word you wrote and I just want to say that you aren't alone in feeling this way. If it means anything at all, I've had a really turbulent time in my life when it comes to my parents too.
CW: SA and Emotional Abuse
I was SA'd when I was a kid and it fucked me up for nearly all of my life. When I was brave enough to come forward to talk about what happened, I had an incredibly large amount of love and kindness thrown my way from nearly everyone. There were exceptions though and those specific people fucked me up really bad.
My grandma dropped the "boys will be boys" line on me through a 3rd hand game of telephone. My aunt (without getting much into detail my cousin was a perpetrator of my SA) called me directly to let me know that I should forgive everyone at any given cost. She then told me a story about how a holocaust survivor forgave a nazi while at church or some shit. My other aunt didn't even bother calling. My uncles never gave a shit about it either. Not surprising but damn guys you could have just said sorry or someshit and leave it at that lmao.
My mom, however had my back. She was such a solid rock for me. She didn't care that I cried forever and couldn't speak. She didn't care that I accidentally leaked snot on her shoulder. I just remember being a vulnerable man that didn't know how to feel anymore until those hugs came through. It was like my heart was cold and she stoked a fire in it once more. Truly a pivot point in my life.
Shit started getting bad after my parents were in a car accident. My mom received an ugly concussion that messed her up in the worst ways. We're talking migraines, light sensitivity, hot flashes, and forgetfulness. I put every ounce of effort into making sure she recovered as best as she could. I worked hard to make sure her room was properly fitted so she can focus on healing her brain. She showed me how to love and care for someone that really needs help and now I had to be put to the test and I was ready for it. I did all of it and more. I don't regret a second of it.
Do you know what I do regret though? Not being more harsh on their Q Anon shit. After all the pain and all the suffering, all the tears, and all of the emotions that we went through, she decided to conveniently forget it all. She looked me straight in the face and told me that what I went through is nothing compared to what the kids of SOUND OF FREEDOM went through. Just years of love and kindness that warmed my heart gone with the snap of her fingers. Like it was nothing. I look back at that moment and taste nothing but saw dust and ash. She cut up and burned everything away in one go.
She had the fucking audacity to tell me that I don't care about children being hurt. ME. Of all the people in the world who can barely handle hurting a bug.
They keep getting older and I don't know what I'm going to do. I truly love them but it's so fucking difficult. How do I reconcile what my own mom said to me? Is it the brain injury? Or maybe she truly believes what she says. It's just painful seeing someone being the exact opposite of what they once showed you. Those little moments of brilliant love and kindness that shine through get stomped out by our cruel world in an instant. My parents keep living in that shadow and it depresses the shit out of me.
I still need their help with transportation and it kills me inside. I don't want to associate with these people anymore but the world keeps giving them back to me. Shits fucked.
If you don't wanna read a heavy story I have a little bit of wisdom as a professional fuck up:
We're all running around screaming trying to figure out wtf is going on, which also includes your dad. How you approach that truth is what separates you from him. He'd prefer to go run and hide in the comfort of the fucked up shadows. You're choosing to claw your way out and that makes a world of difference.
I really hope you feel better today, tomorrow and forever! You deserve love and happiness no matter what!