I bought this book because I was interested getting more perspective on the current Iranian crisis. I must confess being completely ignorant of Middle East history prior to reading this. This was a very enlightening book, written in a way that is almost like reading a novel. I read it in 2 days.

As an American, this book helps me to understand why many in the Middle East hold us in such poor esteem, and how we ourselves have contributed to this sorry state of affairs.

This book should be suggested reading in high school or college history classes. It has certainly made me want to learn more about Iran and about the Middle East in general.

This was truly a gut-wrenching tale that transformed not only the U.S. and Middle East's geopolitics but many other countries.

Kinzer has written a book that undeniably showed that the world's most powerful government had/has nothing but obtuse self-interests. Kinzer provides a detailed account of why the coup took place, the events leading up to it, the history of the CIA, individuals involved, the actions they took and why.

With each individual who participated in the coup, Kinzer supplies specific background information about the person. This becomes very beneficial to the reader.

This book is more than a story about a coup d'etat. It is an entrenching story about Iranian history, culture, religion, and politics. Kinzer gives the history of many Iranian Shahs that ruled, an account of the Zoroastrian and Islamic faiths, and most importantly a biography of the man overthrown, Mohammad Mossadegh. It is impossible not to sympathize for Mossadegh. Kinzer describes him as a dramatic, simple, intelligent, stubborn, honest, and generous man.

I hope this book will change your current perception about Iran and the Middle East as mine was (not that I had a vehement perception towards either in the first place). This is one of the best books I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone interested in either U.S. or Middle East history or a reference to the present relationship between the East and West.

"All The Shah's Men" by Stephen Kinzer is an important piece of work for people who follow current and past American petro-warrior events in the Middle East. This book is even more important for American citizens who do *not* follow current events in the Middle East. This latter group includes but isn't exclusive to people who watch, listen, and read the mainstream media: tabloid TV, political television programs, political talk-radio, and mainstream American newspapers. These mainstream American media sources do *not* report on, nor even discuss what goes on in the Middle East, beyond a superficial level, if even that.

The events of 1953 are eerily reminiscent of current US policy and its continued *long-term presence* in the Middle East. Awareness by US and world citizens about the role of the US and UK in the Middle East past and present, is vital, as this book has proved to be so prescient. The US and UK have worked together in the Middle East long before the recent inaccurate "poodle" labels of 2003. These two cousins have worked together hand-in-hand before, helping each other in this symbiotic relationship, when it's about: oil.

Although I think information exists (somewhere), I don't recall one single article, Op-Ed piece, story, or documentary by the American Mainstream Media about the 1953 American coup in Iran because of oil. Therefore, another reason to tout this book. It seems that this historical info is just not available to the casual observer living in Americana.

Under Mossadegh, Iran was tilting towards the West and away from the Soviet Union (which it never leaned toward in the first place). However the US government and mainstream media constantly reported to the American public that "Iran was tilting towards the Soviet Union." "Gravitating towards communism." This mis-information campaign, during the height of the Cold War Red Scare period during the during the 1950s. Repetitive messages disseminated to the public.

Sound familiar?

CIA operatives falsely fed misinformation to ignorant journalists and also journalists that agreed with the US policy towards Iran. In addition, CIA operatives actually wrote articles for newspapers themselves.

Kinzer begins with the early, middle, and latter history of present-day Iran, leading up to the oil dispute that lead to the rise and fall of democratically elected Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh in the CIA sponsored coup.

Resentment of the British by the Iranians increased over many years. Much of the resentment toward the British was the result of the Britain's 19th Century colonial attitude towards the Iranian government and people. There are 3 primary reasons among many, for the dispute:

1. Constant deceit and dishonesty by the British by not following up on their promises and signed agreements they made with the Iranians. Huge profits were made by the British oil companies but they refused to open their books or let them be audited.

2. Second, was the deplorable treatment and sub-human conditions of Iranian workers in Abadan and other oil fields and refineries. These Iranian oil workers lived in shanty towns without electricity or running water.

3. The British were taking a huge profit-share ratio. The British being foreign Western colonialists, used their power to create and perpetuate these conditions. This ratio was bound to cause not only resentment and dislike, but also let to the labeling of them as the "enemy."

As the Iranian government wanted a more equitable profit sharing agreement, the British government responded by implementing sanctions, blocking exports, and freezing accounts. The British debated sending troops to Iran, but it wasn't feasible. Britain didn't have enough the muscle nor the mojo, for such a task.


ENTER THE AMERICANS:

Kermit Roosevelt Jr. (grandson of President Teddy Roosevelt) was the main point man behind this calculating operation. Norman Schwarzkopf Sr. was also heavily involved. The elites are often related and over generations these familiar family names pass the want of power and influence.


Chapters:

1. Good Evening, Mr. Roosevelt
2. Curse The Fate
3. The Last Drop of the Nation's Blood
4. A Wave of Oil
5. His Master's Orders
6. Unseen Enemies Everywhere
7. You Do Not Know How Evil They Are
8. An Immensely Shrewd Old Man
9. Block Headed British
10 Pull Up Your Socks and Get Going
11 I Knew it! They Love Me!
12 Purring Like a Giant Cat

Notes, Bibliography, and Index

A very worthy book for contemporary issues in the Middle East, and the roots of petro-coups that have carved at the Geo-political landscape of Iran, and the entire Middle Eastern region, today.