Iran, it appears today, is well rid of Mohammed Mossadegh as head of that bankrupt little nation’s Government!

Mossadegh, the aged, fainting, wailing, sobbing, dramatic little man who has led his poverty-stricken country down to worse than poverty by driving out the people who know how to operate and make money from Iran’s rich oil deposits. Nationalism we can understand in any man. Love of country is not entirely a characteristic a la Mossadegh.

The desire for one’s country to be “independent and free”. That, too, we can understand.

But when any man, whether he be a Mossadegh or whomsoever, will deliberately ruin his country financially, and bring it to the brink of Communism, simply to further his own political ambitions by a ‘rule or ruin’ method of operation, he surrenders our sympathy.

Mossadegh may be entirely honest in his claims of “Iran for Iranians.” He may feel that Iran should stand on her own two feet and operate her oil refineries, and sell her oil to anyone, thereby making all the profit herself, instead of taking a good profit from British operation.

But his method of achieving his end, we believe, was wrong. He chose a way that not only alienated most of the world from Iran, but even split his own country in two and gave the Kremlin-bossed Communists a chance to “make hay.”

No, we cannot truthfully say we are sorry to see Mohammed Mossadegh go. We admit we are only sorry that Iran and its Shah Mahammed Reza Pahlevi have waited so long, to oust the tearful little Premier. [sic—Mohammad Reza Pahlavi]

It could have saved much for Iran if it had happened a year ago!

Maybe the strong new Premier can still pick up the pieces and keep Iran from the Kremlin’s grasp! He’s done it twice before! [The “strong new Premier”, Ahmad Ghavam, lasted only five days, and Mossadegh returned.]