American-Backed Coups, Mapped

Johnny Harris・2 minutes read

Powerful countries like the United States historically utilize coups as a tool to achieve their global objectives, with specific criteria including success, involvement of US officials, and concrete evidence of US participation, leading to the overthrow of leaders in countries like Hawaii, Iran, and Guatemala, often resulting in long-term consequences like the rise of dictatorships and anti-American sentiment, affecting global politics and democracy.

Insights

  • The United States has a long history of using coups as a strategic tool to influence global politics, often targeting leaders who challenge American interests or control over resources.
  • The CIA has played a significant role in orchestrating coups worldwide, employing tactics such as bribery, propaganda, and supporting opposition forces to destabilize governments and install leaders favorable to US agendas, showcasing a pattern of intervention that has shaped geopolitical landscapes and sparked anti-American sentiments.

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Recent questions

  • What is a coup?

    A coup is a forceful method used by powerful countries to remove leaders they disapprove of from other nations, bypassing elections and processes. It involves overthrowing a government through illegal or unconstitutional means.

  • How has the United States historically utilized coups?

    The United States has historically utilized coups as a tool to achieve its objectives on the global stage. This includes intervening in other countries to remove leaders perceived as unfavorable to US interests, often leading to political instability and long-term consequences for the affected nations.

  • What criteria are involved in US-led coups?

    Criteria for US-led coups include success in achieving the desired outcome, involvement of at least one US government official in the planning or execution, and concrete evidence of US participation in the coup. These factors contribute to the effectiveness and impact of US interventions in other countries.

  • How did the US involvement in coups impact Hawaii?

    Hawaii witnessed one of the US's initial coups in 1893, leading to the overthrow of the Hawaiian queen and eventual annexation by the US. This intervention by the United States had lasting effects on Hawaii's political landscape and relationship with the US.

  • What tactics did the CIA employ in orchestrating coups globally?

    The CIA revolutionized coup tactics globally, utilizing bribery, staged attacks, chaos creation, and orchestrating violence to destabilize governments and achieve US objectives. These covert operations often involved manipulation of events, propaganda, and support for opposition forces to facilitate regime changes in various countries.

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Summary

00:00

US-Led Coups: History and Impact on Nations

  • A coup is a forceful method used by powerful countries to remove leaders they disapprove of from other nations, bypassing elections and processes.
  • The United States has historically utilized coups as a tool to achieve its objectives on the global stage.
  • Criteria for US-led coups include success, involvement of at least one US government official, and concrete evidence of US participation.
  • Hawaii witnessed one of the US's initial coups in 1893, leading to the overthrow of the Hawaiian queen and eventual annexation by the US.
  • Spain's declining empire faced resistance in its colonies like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, prompting US intervention through military actions and broken promises of independence.
  • In 1909, Nicaragua experienced a US-backed coup due to a president's attempts to regulate powerful American companies, resulting in his removal and replacement by a leader favored by the US.
  • Honduras encountered a coup orchestrated by a private American citizen, known as the Banana Man, with US indirect support, leading to the overthrow of the president and favorable conditions for American businesses.
  • The 1950s saw the CIA's emergence, revolutionizing coup tactics globally, exemplified in the 1953 coup in Iran to oust Prime Minister Mosaddegh for nationalizing oil resources controlled by a British company.
  • The CIA's covert operations in Iran involved bribery, staged attacks, chaos creation, and orchestrating violence to destabilize the government, ultimately leading to Mosaddegh's downfall and the rise of a US-friendly dictator, the Shah.
  • The Shah's reign in Iran under US and UK support resulted in a brutal police state, marked by executions, secret police, and oppression, culminating in mass protests in 1979 that ousted him and brought in a new leader.

11:53

US interference in global politics through coups.

  • Iran became an Islamic Republic due to resentment towards US interference.
  • The US orchestrated coups in various countries without requiring American consensus.
  • In Guatemala, the CIA overthrew a president to protect American business interests.
  • The CIA used propaganda, trained fighters, and fake news to manipulate events in Guatemala.
  • The US-backed regime in Guatemala committed atrocities and political assassinations.
  • In Congo, the CIA orchestrated a political coup to remove Prime Minister Lumumbau.
  • The CIA supported Lumumbau's enemies and former colonizer Belgium to oust him.
  • The US intervened in the Dominican Republic to prevent a communist revolution.
  • In Vietnam, the CIA orchestrated a coup resulting in the assassination of President Diem.
  • The US-backed coups in Brazil, Chile, Libya, Grenada, Panama, and Afghanistan were detailed.

24:21

US weapons backfire in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya

  • US weapons sent to counter Soviets in Afghanistan were later used against American soldiers during regime changes orchestrated by the US post-9/11, leading to the country falling back under Taliban rule.
  • In 2003, 150,000 American troops invaded Iraq under the guise of finding weapons of mass destruction, but their main goal was to remove Saddam Hussein, resulting in the establishment of an American-friendly government and the rise of anti-American rebel groups like ISIS.
  • In 2011, the US intervened in Libya during protests against dictator Muammar Gaddafi, eventually leading to his capture and death, causing chaos in the country, highlighting the long-standing pattern of US-led coups impacting global politics and democracy.
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