The CIA's Role in Overthrowing Governments

Which governments did the CIA work to overthrow under President Eisenhower?

A. Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran
B. Guatemala, Iran, and Israel
C. Cuba, Guatemala, and Japan
D. Israel, Japan, and Denmark

Answer:

The correct answer is Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran.

During President Eisenhower's term, the CIA played a significant role in orchestrating coup d'états to overthrow the governments of Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran. These covert operations were part of the United States' strategic efforts to maintain political influence in regions considered vital to its national interests.

In Cuba, the CIA's involvement led to the overthrow of Fidel Castro's government in 1959. The agency supported and trained Cuban exiles for the Bay of Pigs invasion, which ultimately failed and embarrassed the United States on the international stage.

In Guatemala, the CIA worked to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Jacobo Árbenz in 1954. The agency backed a military coup that replaced Árbenz with a US-friendly regime, marking a turning point in US intervention in Latin America.

In Iran, the CIA collaborated with the British intelligence agency MI6 to overthrow Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in 1953. The operation, known as Operation Ajax, reinstated the Shah of Iran to power and secured Western control over Iran's oil resources.

These interventions in Cuba, Guatemala, and Iran illustrate the controversial and often destabilizing role of the CIA in shaping geopolitics during the Cold War era. The repercussions of these actions continue to resonate in the politics of these countries and the broader international community.