Reason #71: The Truman Doctrine and the Birth of World Boss

In 1947, the Truman Doctrine made America’s new dominant role in the Middle East official. Following World War II, most of the world expected a Third World War to erupt between the United States and the USSR. The Truman Doctrine guaranteed that the United States would “protect” Greece and Turkey against the communists. But what the United States was really protecting in Greece and Turkey was the main route for Middle Eastern oil: over land via pipeline and then on tankers through the Mediterranean.

Why would the U.S. government pledge our military to secure a pipeline route halfway around the world? To protect and serve the profits of our biggest oil companies, that’s why. In 1948, American firms signed a deal with Saudi Arabia to develop the Saudis’ huge newly discovered oil fields. The Saudis got 50 percent of all revenue in the deal. Fifty percent for their own oil might not sound like much, but it was a hell of a lot more than the British were giving Iran for their black stuff. That was a major reason why our oil companies were so generous with the Saudis, to piss the neighboring Persians off just enough that they might kick the Brits out.

NEXT: Reason #72: Messing with Mossadegh - Past is Prologue in Iran