Iran was an allie of the U.S. during the cold war. We helped train thier airforce, we also helped them train the secret police SAWAK who were not good guys in white hats. I actualy saw Iranian oficers in germany watching one of our manuvers. The they over threw the shah, kicked us out, stormed our embassy and held our diplomats hostage.Then using the enemy of my enemy is my friend, we helped iraq in the war with Iran. Both were corrupt governments.Cuba,Batista was a puppet of american interests some of the stuff in "the godfather" is fact. the people of cuba wanted batista out,we ignored them, we got Castro instead.We seemed to pick losers as our friends,We fought a war to be free of colonial rule, and sided with colonial powers when others wanted independance. We just have trouble keeping our noses out of other peoples business.And it costs us BIGTIME.