The checkered history of US regime change operations

"During the Cold War alone (1947-1989), the US made 72 attempts to change the balance of power abroad in its favor, according to a study from 2019. 64 of these cases were covert operations by the secret services, with a success rate of around 40%."

"In 1953, for example, the US' foreign intelligence service CIA, together with its British MI6 counterpart, succeeded in overthrowing then-Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. As a result, Iran's new ruler Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was increasingly seen as a 'lackey of the US' and was overthrown during the Islamic Revolution in 1979."

"Even a seemingly successful regime change operation can lead to new problems in the long run."

The United States has a long history of regime change operations dating back to the Cold War era. Between 1947 and 1989, the US conducted 72 attempts to alter foreign power balances, with 64 being covert operations achieving approximately 40% success rates. A notable example is the 1953 CIA-led overthrow of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, which installed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This intervention ultimately backfired when the Shah was overthrown during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, establishing the theocratic regime now targeted by current airstrikes. Despite official denials that current military actions constitute regime change operations, historical patterns suggest such motivations may underlie US foreign policy decisions. Even seemingly successful regime change operations frequently produce unintended long-term consequences.

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