Are Americans really so ignorant about why Iran hates the US?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Ajax (first paragraph)

"Operation Ajax (1953) was a covert operation by the UK and US to remove the nationalist cabinet from power...in order to preserve the Western control of Iran's oil infrastructure.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright... made an apology to the Iranian people in 2000 for the United States' role in the overthrow"

(Wording slightly changed since above quote)

Answer 1

To sweet pea up there... Saying "who cares" and "get over it" for the atrocities we committed onto another sovereign nation is ludicrous. It would be like someone telling us to just get over 9-11.

A lot of people aren't aware of operation Ajax. It's unfortunate. Peter Jennings's did a documentary in 1999 as a part of his new millennium series, that was about this "genius" move by the CIA in 1953.

When the hostages were taken in 1979, most Americans had no idea why. There are still people who don't know why.

My book group read a book called: "All the Shah's Men" by Steven Kinzer, who's respected by both parties for being a writer with impeccable honesty and credentials. It's a must read for any American.

Answer 2

Who cares?? those honestly everyone remains hating and combating conflicts and resenting perceived slights that got here approximately 500 years in the past. communicate some sufferer society. they have been doing it for see you later it has exchange right into a evaluate their custom. From the place I stand, they are in an enduring state of resentment and socially want to stay interior the 14th century. enable them to bark. Iran is in trouble-free terms a coalition of 5 or 6 tribes united by Europeans for convenience sake. It nevertheless takes unusual rules and suppression just to maintain them under administration.

Answer 3

But what were those “crimes”? Clinton summed them thus: “It’s a sad story that really began in the 1950s when the United States deposed Mr. Mossadegh, who was an elected parliamentary democrat, and brought the Shah back and then he was overturned by the Ayatollah Khomeini, driving us into the arms of one Saddam Hussein. We got rid of the parliamentary democracy {there} back in the ‘50s; at least, that is my belief.”

Duped by a myth spread by the Blame-America-First coalition, Clinton appears to have done little homework on Iran. The truth is that Iran in the 1950s was not a parliamentary democracy but a constitutional monarchy in which the Shah appointed, and dismissed, the prime minister. Mossadegh was named prime minister twice by the Shah and twice dismissed. In what way that meant that the US “got rid of parliamentary democracy” that did not exist is not clear.

There are at least two things that Clinton does not know about Iran and Iranians.

The first is that the claim that the US changed the course of Iranian history on a whim would be seen by most Iranians, a proud people, as an insult from an arrogant politician who exaggerates the powers of his nation more than half a century ago. The second thing that Clinton does not know is that in the Islamic Republic that he so admires, Mossadegh, far from being regarded as a national hero, is an object of intense vilification. One of the first acts of the mullas after seizing power in 1979 was to take the name of Mossadegh off a street in Tehran. They then sealed off the village where Mossadegh is buried to prevent his supporters from gathering at his tomb. History textbooks written by the mullas present Mossadegh as the “son of a feudal family of exploiters who worked for the cursed Shah, and betrayed Islam.”

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=59952&d=5&m=3&y=2005

Answer 4

Problem is that this type of operation has been customary for the US - we also ousted a democratically elected governmetn in Iraq to empower the Ba'ath party which led to Hussein taking control.

Our actions have consequences, and we need to be aware of our history so that we can stop doing the same dumb things over and over again.

Answer 5

Ever nation in the world well ,try and influence other countries,so what Lets see that was 54 years ago how long ago was the Embassy over run how about an apology for that? Maybe you and they should stop telling us how much you hate us and think how we might hate YOU!How about a parade down Wilshire bl in L A the last one don't go off so well The ones that got out of their cars got their butts handed to them

Answer 6

Per Sweetpea's answer ("who cares?"), I'd have to say that yes, many Americans don't understand why Iran hates the US. Those who refuse to educate themselves seem to think that recognizing the reasons is the same thing as excusing those reasons, when it's NOT. They apparently want black hats and white hats, and no details in between.

Answer 7

Iran is going to be destroyed. And yes. We Americans are fully aware of our involvement in the Iran-Contra affair.

And we were right to do it and we would do it again.

Answer 8

There is no excuse for hate at government (or any other) level. The problem with Iran is that they have muslim crazies running the government. They want to destroy Israel, and want to see the downfall of the US. That kind of thinking and behavior has no place on our earth.

Answer 9

Most Americans could care less what Iran thinks, me included..

Answer 10

It was for oil. Why am I not surprised?