This was a really interesting and educational post. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out. Yes, you are right that I glossed over a lot of the details o

This was a really interesting and educational post. Thanks for taking the time to lay it all out. Yes, you are right that I glossed over a lot of the details of what happened in 1953. I thought this was appropriate given the context of the broader point I was trying to address - namely, the huge strategic importance of Iran to the West. This is kind of a big problem I have with talking about politics and history - either you gloss over important details to make a point, or you have to write a book. I think the myth of Kermit Roosevelt and his bag of money endures, not (just) because of propaganda, but because it is 'true enough' - it serves to put a national event within the regional context of the decline of British/rise of American influence, and the global narrative of the Cold War.