Stephen Kinzer

Part II...Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Stephen Kinzer — 2006-05-08T04:43:00Z

Part I of Interview with Stephen Kinzer

Author Stephen Kinzer discusses his book, "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq." In it, Kinzer writes that over 110 years, the United States has deployed its power to gain access to natural resources, stifle dissent and control the nationalism of newly independent states or political movements.

- / Democracy Now!

Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq

Stephen Kinzer — 2006-04-21T17:37:19Z

"The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was not an isolated episode. It was the culmination of a 110-year period during which Americans overthrew fourteen governments that displeased them for various ideological, political, and economic reasons."

So writes author Stephen Kinzer in his new book "Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq."

Kinzer writes that "The "regime change" in Iraq seemed for a time — a very short time — to have worked. It is now clear, however, that this operation has had terrible unintended consequences. So have most of the other coups, revolutions, and invasions that the United States has mounted to depose governments it feared or mistrusted."

- / Democracy Now!

Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change From Hawaii to Iraq

Stephen Kinzer — 2006-04-05T18:59:00Z

Introduction

Why does a strong nation strike against a weaker one? Usually because it seeks to impose its ideology, increase its power, or gain control of valuable resources. Shifting combinations of these three factors motivated the United States as it extended its global reach over the past century and more. This book examines the most direct form of American intervention, the overthrow of foreign governments.

The invasion of Iraq in 2003 was not an isolated episode. It was the culmination of a 110-year period during which Americans overthrew fourteen governments that displeased them for various ideological, political, and economic reasons. Like each of these operations, the "regime change" in Iraq seemed for a time — a very short time — to have worked. It is now clear, however, that this operation has had terrible unintended consequences. So have most of the other coups, revolutions, and invasions that the United States has mounted to depose governments it feared or mistrusted.

The United States uses a variety of means to persuade other countries to do its bidding. In many cases it relies on time-honored tactics of diplomacy, offering rewards to governments that support American interests and threatening retaliation against those that refuse. Sometimes it defends friendly regimes against popular anger or uprisings. In more than a few places, it has quietly supported coups or revolutions organized by others. Twice, in the context of world wars, it helped to wipe away old ruling orders and impose new ones.

This book is not about any of those ways Americans have shaped the modern world. It focuses only on the most extreme set of cases: those in which the United States arranged to depose foreign leaders. No nation in modern history has done this so often, in so many places so far from its own shores. (...)

US Iran Policy

Foaad Khosmood, Stephen Kinzer — 2004-05-24T04:00:00Z

Foaad Khosmood: In your April 2004 American Prospect article("Handle With Care"), you wrote "Iranians fervently wish for change, but not through revolution." Do you believe there is a viable non-revolutionary option toward greater freedom and economic change in Iran?

Stephen Kinzer: Iranians learned a very painful lesson from the years of the late 1970s and early 80s. The lesson is that revolutions are unpredictable. You don't want to let the wheel of revolution roll start rolling, because you can never predict how it will bounce or where it will ultimately land. (...)

How to Overthrow A Government Pt. 1: The 1953 U.S. Coup in Iran

Stephen Kinzer — 2004-03-05T05:00:00Z

New York Times reporter Steven Kinzer discusses how the U.S. overthrew the democratically elected government of Iran. Kinzer says “I think it was the success of the Iran coup and the Guatamalan one the folllowed that sent the US off on this direction of covert action and regime change.” -

50 Years After the CIA's First Overthrow of a Democratically Elected Foreign Government We Take a Look at the 1953 US Backed Coup in Iran

Ervand Abrahamian, Stephen Kinzer — 2003-08-25T04:00:00Z

After nationalizing the oil industry Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the CIA and British intelligence. We speak with Stephen Kinzer author of All the Shah's Men: An American Coup And The Roots of Middle East Terror and Baruch College professor Ervand Abrahamian. -