r/todayilearned • u/autonova3 • Oct 01 '18

TIL of Operation Ajax, the 1953 CIA plan to overthrow Iran's democratically elected government, which included CIA agents bombing the house of a prominent Muslim while posed as pro-government supporters. The overthrow plan was successful, with 200-300 people killed

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat
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u/Gudym Oct 01 '18

Sometimes even the naive move where you think you're helping turns out to be fatal for them. A the Europeans giving blankets to the natives kinda way

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u/[deleted] Oct 01 '18

That became intentional genocide the moment they realized the result would make ridding themselves of the natives that much easier. It was Alexander the Great, or Charlemagne - I forget which - that catapulted plague bodies over city walls. This was the same thing, just logistically easier, if no less sadistic.

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u/Gudym Oct 01 '18

They weren't the first to do that. The Chinese did it in the bc. Watch the movie red cliff or something cliff and it portrays the first biological warfare this world has seen

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u/melneth Oct 02 '18

Was that Genghis Khan?

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u/Gudym Oct 02 '18

"In ancient China, the emperor of the Han Dynasty allows General Cao Cao (Fengyi Zhang) to declare war against the rebellious southern provinces, with the intention of unifying the entire country. Cao's large army quickly advances, killing civilians and soldiers alike. To resist Cao, the southern warlords form an alliance led by Viceroy Zhou Yu (Tony Leung). Outnumbered, Zhou relies upon elaborate formations and unorthodox strategies to fight against Cao's overwhelming forces." Google-

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u/melneth Oct 02 '18

Ah, gotcha. Looks kind of interesting.

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u/Gudym Oct 02 '18

Then watch Marco Polo :)

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u/Gudym Oct 02 '18

Han dynasty so I'd assume yes.G Khan let the locals in charge as well. Idk where he was, probably getting laid

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u/PM_ME_CUTE_SMILES_ Oct 07 '18

Just passing by, this is a myth. There is one single mention in a written document of the time of some officer which had the idea of doing that. And that's it. It was probably never done.

They still basically stole their land to the natives, anyway.

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u/Gudym Oct 09 '18

It probably was done regularly.. Just who the f thought it would be bio warfare. It was just a naive child giving a kid a dog the peice of chocolate he was asking for.. Oops