Half a century ago, the United States overthrew a Middle Eastern government for the first time. The victim was Mohammad Mossadegh, the democratically elected prime minister of Iran. Although the coup seemed a success at first, today it serves as a chilling lesson about the dangers of foreign intervention. In this book, the author, a veteran New York Times correspondent, gives a full account of this fateful operation. This book is centered around an hour-by-hour reconstruction of the events of August 1953, and concludes with an assessment of the coup's "haunting and terrible legacy."--adapted from jacket.

Good evening, Mr. Roosevelt --Curse this fate -- The last drop of the nation's blood -- A wave of oil -- His master's orders -- Unseen enemies everywhere -- You do not know how evil they are -- An immensely shrewd old man -- Block headed British -- Pull up your socks and get going -- I knew it! : they love me! -- Purring like a giant cat.