American Intervention in Iran and the Danger of Blowback - Connor Boyack

Quick Overview

Connor Boyack argues that the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew the US-backed Shah, was a direct response to decades of American and British geopolitical meddling, specifically citing the CIA/British coup against Mossadegh and the subsequent support for the Shah's brutal dictatorship as the primary motivation for the revolutionary blowback.

Key Points: The Iranian Revolution of 1979 was motivated by the backlash against US and British interference, including the 1953 coup that deposed Prime Minister Mossadegh. The CIA and British government installed the Shah, whom Boyack describes as a brutal dictator, leading to decades of resentment. The Iranian open letter after 9/11, which cited grievances against America, was a direct, rational response to this history of intervention, not random terrorism. The author of the book "Blowback" (Chalmers Johnson) is cited as detailing how the US government provided shelter to the Shah for medical treatment, further angering Iranians. The US government's actions, such as supporting the Shah and funding the Mujahideen in Afghanistan against the Soviets, created the conditions for the hostage crisis and subsequent anti-American sentiment. Boyack contends that understanding this history makes current actions and opinions regarding Iran appear much wiser and better informed.

Context: The video features an interview between John Papola (Dad, Filmmaker, Founder, Emergent Order Foundation) and Connor Boyack (Creator of the "Tuttle Twins" books, President, Libertas Institute). The discussion centers on the historical context and motivations behind the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis, specifically challenging the simplistic narrative that the actions were purely rooted in religious fundamentalism, instead pointing to decades of Western geopolitical intervention in Iran.

Detailed Analysis

Connor Boyack explains that the popular narrative surrounding the 1979 hostage crisis—that it was purely an act of irrational, religious fundamentalism—is entirely untrue. He references the open letter published by Osama bin Laden one year after 9/11, which listed grievances against America, including its support for the Shah of Iran. Boyack emphasizes that the Shah was a brutal dictator installed by the CIA and the British government following the 1953 coup that overthrew the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. This coup was orchestrated to maintain Western control over Iranian oil, which Mossadegh intended to nationalize. The subsequent decades saw the Shah oppress his people, leading to the 1979 revolution as a direct blowback against Western meddling. Boyack notes that Chalmers Johnson’s book "Blowback" details this history, arguing that the hostage-takers were acting rationally based on perceived justifications for their actions. The final straw, Boyack suggests, was the US granting asylum to the deposed Shah for medical treatment, which led directly to the embassy takeover. He concludes that understanding this history of intervention is crucial to avoid repeating unproductive or immoral foreign policy decisions.