51
In 1951, the fiery premier began his nationalization of oil.  The
result was a disaster.  At least it would have been a disaster...if all the
Iranians cared about was food, shelter and clothing.  Britain closed
down the refineries.  Vast numbers of British Iranian Petroleum
Company employees were thrown out of work.  Tribal chiefs
accustomed to living off of oil royalties went empty-handed.
Mosaddeq's administration was starved for lack of cash.  Government
employees went from week to week without pay.  The Iranian
economy became a basket-case.151
But the Iranians did not complain.  Why?  The feeling of power
was worth the price.  Pecking order pleasure centers reveled in
bringing down those on high.
The Iranian euphoria was not to last.  Both America and Britain
were worried about the loss of this valuable piece of real estate.  With
British encouragement, the CIA arranged Mosaddeq's overthrow.152
The Shah returned, more beholden to America than ever.  And the
oilfields went back to the foreigners.  But the Iranians never forgot their
moment of pecking order triumph.
Iran did very well under American tutelage.  Poverty plunged.
Education and health care spread through the land.  Women gained
new freedoms.  And the standard of living skyrocketed.153  American
policymakers were proud of their accomplishments.  By the measure of
food, clothing and shelter, the U.S. had helped Iran accomplish
miracles.  But both our State Department and the Shah had forgotten
that pride, dignity and dominance--the needs of the pecking order
impulse--are far more pressing than the demands of the body.
In 1972, after 31 years in power, the Shah at last felt that his
people had attained happiness. He decided to celebrate by throwing
himself a party.  The monarch invited 68 kings and heads of state,154
housed his guests in air-conditioned, silk-lined tents complete with
living room, bedroom and kitchen, and fed them mountains of caviar
and food prepared by chefs flown in from the world's most expensive
restaurants.155  He presided over a military parade in which his troops
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