To the editor:

I appreciated Mr. Walker’s comments on the United States involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, but I would suggest that this involvement began somewhat earlier than 1967, the year he cites.

In 1952-1953, the British and Americans combined to engineer a coup in which Muhammad Mossadegh the elected, popular and populist leader of the nation was overthrown. There were several reasons for this action. Mossadegh’s popularity challenged the authority of the Shah whom the British and Americans had put in power. Beyond this, however, Mossadegh was planning on selling Iranian oil at a competitive price to countries other than England and the United States.

This entire episode is covered in a history of the operation written within the CIA, finally made public under the Freedom of Information Act, and accessible at www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB28/index.html.

Lynn Nelson,

Lawrence