May 21, 2003
History of British foreign policy.
Nice
article in the Guardian by Mark Curtis discussing the history of British foreign policy, and questioning current claims that it is any more benevolent than the US. Apparently he's written an entire book on the subject.
The reality is that overthrowing governments and backing repressive regimes is as British as afternoon tea.
...
Fifty years ago, MI6 and the CIA overthrew the popular, nationalist government in Iran, which had threatened British interests by nationalising oil operations. Churchill's government continued covert operations begun by Attlee, to install what foreign secretary Anthony Eden called "a more reliable government". Formerly secret files reveal that our ambassador in Tehran preferred "a dictator" who would "settle the oil question on reasonable terms". The Shah took control and ruled Iran with an iron fist for 25 years, while Britain and the US helped train his secret police.
Britain's invasion of British Guiana in the same year is long forgotten. Democratic elections had resulted in victory for a popular, leftist government committed to reducing poverty. Its plans also threatened the British sugar multinational, Bookers, who pleaded with London to intervene. Britain dispatched warships and 700 troops to overthrow the government, and ruled out elections since "the same party would have been elected again", the colonial secretary stated.
Nice to see this part of history get some attention. There are very few, if any, countries in the Middle East that have not seen substantial British interference in their affairs. And it started a long time before the US showed up. And, as we speak, they are continuing to sell arms to Syria, Saudi Arabia and most other nations in the area.
