The U.S.- Perfect Picture of Democracy

Kristen Comstock, 15

When the United States of America became a country 200 years ago it was founded on one basic principle- democracy. However, surprisingly enough, in the last 50 years the US has helped to uphold many dictatorships, oppressing, torturing and killing the people of these countries. Although the US has sacrificed thousands of its young men in the name of democracy (e.g. Vietnam) the US has also sacrificed thousands of citizens in Iran, Chile, the Central African Republic and numerous other foreign countries in the name of power.

The most clear and dramatic example of this is the US's involvement in Iran in the 1950s and 60s. The story begins after WWI when the United Kingdom gained control over much of the Middle East. Iran was an especially important asset to the UK because of its large oil deposits. The British then implemented a "puppet government" - an Iranian government placed in power and mostly controlled by Britain. This government was headed by a dictator called the Shah. The Shah remained in power until the late 1950s, when the Iranian people elected a prime minister and legislature. Britain, afraid of losing the wealth in Iran, called on the US to help overthrow the new government and place the Shah back in power.

At this time the British were America's closest allies. Therefore, the US felt it was it's duty to help Britain and sent the CIA into Iran. Once the CIA arrived in Iran, they organized and trained a secret police force. This police force, along with Iranian military, carried out a violent military coup against the democratically elected government. The coup was successful and the Shah returned to power. In this way, the US used violence to overthrow a democratically elected government to defend a dictatorship.

This was not the end of American involvement in Iran. Several years later the Shah was again having problems. Fearing a rebellion, the British again called on the US for help and the US again sent the CIA. However, this time the atrocities against the people were even greater than before. To guarantee the people would "stay in their place," the CIA and it's secret police force heavily punished Iran's political prisoners. Anyone suspected of opposing the Shah was arrested and tortured. One method of torture involved attaching wires to the genitalia and sending electric shock waves through the wire. This was supported and carried out by the US

Today, as we see the US being involved with numerous foreign affairs and promoting democracy, it is important to realize the US has not always adhered strictly to this doctrine where wealth or power is involved.