Monsters, Inc.
July 17, 1951 — U.S. Editorial
July 17, 1951 — U.S. Editorial
| Arash Norouzi |
The following metaphorical newspaper editorial reacted to these events, yet it’s unclear who authored it. The Knickerbocker News (Albany, New York) published Iran’s Frankenstein on Tuesday, July 17, 1951. The Elmira Star-Gazette (Elmira, New York) ran it in their "Expressions of Opinion" section on Thursday, July 19, 1951. Perhaps there were others.
By 1953, the United States created its own Frankenstein — the unrestrained tyranny of the Shah — which, in 1979, resulted in the terrifying triumph of something even more monstrous. And those monsters keep on coming •
Iran’s Frankenstein
With the outbreak of serious rioting in Tehran, Premier Mohammed Mossadegh well may begin to wonder if he hasn’t contrived a Frankenstein. Iran’s premier rode into office on a wave of nationalism that he had helped generate. But the trouble is getting out of hand, particularly as the Communists are using it for ends not contemplated by the veteran Persian politician. Recently nine persons were killed and scores injured as Communists, police and members of Mr. Mossadegh’s Nationalist Front [National Front] mixed in a free-for-all on the streets around the Parliament Building.
It is a reasonable assumption that the Persian premier actually sought nothing more in the nationalization of Iran’s oil than control of the fields and a larger share of the profits. But while he whipped up nationalist feeling to achieve that end, there is evidence now that he is being driven by, rather than leading, the mass emotional binge.
His own political skin is in danger if a final breach occurs with the British. For without English ships and technicians the fields cannot operate or the product be marketed. That in turn means bankruptcy for the government of Iran, a development that the Persian people can hardly take lightly. And, from being a national hero, Premier Mossadegh could quickly turn into a national goat.
It is to our interest to see peace between Iran and Britain on this question. But it is even more vital that we keep Persian oil for the West and deny it to Russia. A finely-balanced judgment is required in blending those two objectives. We wonder if our State Department has it.
Related links:
The West Created Monsters in the Middle East, Argues Tarek Fatah
Danger Signals In Iran — The Philadelphia Inquirer, May 1, 1951
End in Iran?......An Editorial — The Cortland Standard, June 22, 1951
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
