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From Wondery, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is American Scandal.

In 1953, the CIA launched a covert operation that sent shockwaves through the Middle East and reshaped US foreign policy for decades.

The target of the mission was Muhammad Mosadek, the elected Prime Minister of Iran.

Mosadek had risen to power, promising to strengthen Iran's democracy.

He was a staunch proponent of core democratic principles like the Freedom of the Press and Fair Elections.

But Mosadek had broader ambitions, too.

He sought to nationalize Iran's oil industry, which for years had been under the control of the British.

And as he began carrying out his large-scale reforms, leaders in Washington grew concerned.

American officials believed it was only a matter of time before Iran fell under the sway of communists, lending greater regional influence to the Soviet Union.

So with the blessing of America's top officials, the CIA launched a coup, aiming to replace Mosadek with a Prime Minister who seemed more aligned with Western interests.

The CIA led a campaign that include bribes, staged riots, and the manipulation of the Iranian press.

And ultimately, Mosadek was forced to step down.

But many have argued that in the end, the CIA's coup undermined America's self-interest, that it damaged America's standing as a global leader.

Insighting American interventions like this Operation Ajax in Iran, some critics have been calling for a radically new approach to US foreign policy.

My guest today is Stephen Wald, political scientist and professor of international relations at Harvard's Kennedy School of Public Policy.

Wald has written extensively about foreign policy, and is the author of books including Taming American Power and the Hell of Good Intentions.

In our conversation, we'll discuss the moral dimensions and political costs of US interventions around the world.

And we'll take a broad look at the ideas that have shaped American policy over the last century.

Our conversation is next.

Hello, it is Matt and Alice from British scandal here, and we wanted to let you know that this season we are very excited to be covering the Cambridge Spies.

It's got everything you could possibly want from a series of British scandal, treachery in the establishment, overconfident public schoolboys, and strange meetings on park benches.

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