Is they think that we have some sort of omnipotent power.
We helped the Shah take his seat in Iran.
HE ran his country.
SAVAK got training from us.
THEY chose to use our training to oppress.
The Shah disempowered the arcchaic mullah system (a very very good thing)
HE decided to make himself into some sort neo-Persian absolute monarch, complete with fantasy bloodline.
We interact with these people.
We do so, as we should for our national interests.
The fact that many of them become despots is a reflection of human nature.
Look at Pinochet.
He bit the bullet, had Allende shot, and built Chile into arguably the best and most prosperous nation in S. America, and left his power on the table and walked off, with a multi-party democracy in his place.
Did we help him? Darn tootin'.
He and his junta made their choices.
Ed