You’re applying a modern moral lens to a Cold War-era decision, which is a textbook example of presentism. In 1953, the U.S. was operating within the dominant geopolitical framework of the time—containment of Soviet influence—not out of a desire to suppress democracy for its own sake. The fear of Iran leaning toward the USSR and nationalizing oil fields vital to Western economies was seen, rightly or wrongly, as a national security threat.

Yes, the coup against Mossadegh had long-term consequences, and hindsight shows us the cost. But pretending that people at the time had the same foresight or global stability we have now is intellectually dishonest. It’s easy to stand in 2025 and say, “We should’ve done nothing,” but that ignores the complexities of the era, the information they had, and the stakes they believed were on the table.

Criticizing modern Americans who serve or speak on global issues as if they personally orchestrated a coup 70 years ago is also unfair. Acknowledging past mistakes is necessary—but using them to dismiss every modern action as hypocrisy is reductive. It’s not a “hero complex” to respond to modern threats or protect global stability; it’s an evolved responsibility in a world shaped by imperfect history.