CIA Director Michael Hayden Evades Question on '53 Coup in Iran

CIA's Michael Hayden Hides From '53 Coup Topic

CIA Director Michael Hayden Can't Handle the Truth

Current CIA Chief Michael V. Hayden, a former Air Force General, spoke at a Council on Foreign Relations seminar in New York city on September 7, 2007. At the close of his talk, the first questioner asked him about the folly of the 1953 coup in Iran that overthrew Mossadegh.

As shown in the brief transcript below, Hayden completely dodged the question, yet even this minimal response is extremely telling. Firstly, he actually acknowledges that he would like refuge from the question, citing a well worn phrase used by government officials who wish to evade answering a particular query-- 'That sounds like a policy question.' This is punctuated by a bit of sheepish chuckling.

Then Hayden gives a canned answer about the CIA being an extension of the U.S. democratic system, which operates "within a framework of law". Ah, but the CIA's coup in Iran, as well as other foreign coups, assassinations, and meddling around the world, are and were completely illegal under international law. This would make the CIA a criminal enterprise, like the Mafia, and a terrorist organization, like Al Qaeda. No wonder Michael Hayden can't handle this simple question.

Click play to hear the audio of Hayden's cowardly answer

QUESTIONER: I'm Lucy Komisar, I am a journalist. I wonder whether looking back a little bit in history, you think there are any lessons to learn from the fact that the CIA, having overthrown Mossadegh in Iraq, set the stage for the problems that we are facing now.. -- I'm sorry -- in Iran, but of course it extends to Iraq.

HAYDEN: The refuge of all intelligence officers: 'that sounds like a policy question'. (laughs)

All I can tell you, all right, is that the Central Intelligence Agency, within a framework of law, carries out the foreign policy of the United States that is constructed by the people that we elect in both the executive and legislative branch.

GENERAL MICHAEL V. HAYDEN BIOGRAPHY [Official U.S. Air Force biography]

Gen. Michael V. Hayden is Director, Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Va. Appointed by President George W. Bush, General Hayden is responsible for overseeing all activities of the CIA.

General Hayden entered active duty in 1969 after earning a bachelor's degree in history in 1967 and a master's degree in modern American history in 1969, both from Duquesne University. He is a distinguished graduate of the university's ROTC program. General Hayden has served as Commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and as Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center. He has also served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, Headquarters U.S. European Command, National Security Council and the U.S. Embassy in the People's Republic of Bulgaria. The general has also served as Deputy Chief of Staff, United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea. General Hayden was Director, National Security Agency, and Chief, Central Security Service, Fort George G. Meade, Md. Prior to his current assignment, he was the Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, the first person to serve in that position.

EDUCATION
1967 Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
1969 Master's degree in modern American history, Duquesne University
1975 Academic Instructor School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
1976 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1978 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
1980 Defense Intelligence School (postgraduate curriculum), Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling AFB, D.C.
1983 Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
1983 Air War College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.

ASSIGNMENTS
1. January 1970 - January 1972, analyst and briefer, Headquarters Strategic Air Command, Offutt AFB, Neb.
2. January 1972 - May 1975, Chief, Current Intelligence Division, Headquarters 8th Air Force, Andersen AFB, Guam
3. May 1975 - July 1975, student, Academic Instructor School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
4. July 1975 - August 1979, academic instructor and commandant of cadets, ROTC program, St. Michael's College, Winooski, Vt.
5. August 1979 - June 1980, student, Defense Intelligence School (postgraduate intelligence curriculum), Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling AFB, D.C.
6. June 1980 - July 1982, Chief of Intelligence, 51st Tactical Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea
7. July 1982 - January 1983, student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, Va.
8. January 1983 - July 1984, student, air attaché training, Washington, D.C.
9. July 1984 - July 1986, air attaché, U.S. Embassy, Sofia, People's Republic of Bulgaria
10. July 1986 - September 1989, politico-military affairs officer, Strategy Division, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
11. September 1989 - July 1991, Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control, National Security Council, Washington, D.C.
12. July 1991 - May 1993, Chief, Secretary of the Air Force Staff Group, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C.
13. May 1993 - October 1995, Director, Intelligence Directorate, Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany
14. October 1995 - December 1995, special assistant to the Commander, Headquarters Air Intelligence Agency, Kelly AFB, Texas
15. January 1996 - September 1997, Commander, Air Intelligence Agency, and Director, Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, Kelly AFB, Texas
16. September 1997 - March 1999, Deputy Chief of Staff, United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison, South Korea
17. March 1999 - April 2005, Director, National Security Agency, and Chief, Central Security Service, Fort George G. Meade, Md.
18. April 2005 - May 2006, Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence, Washington, D.C.
19. May 2006 - present, Director, Central Intelligence Agency, Langley, Va.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1967
First Lieutenant June 7, 1970
Captain Dec. 7, 1971
Major June 1, 1980
Lieutenant Colonel Feb. 1, 1985
Colonel Nov. 1, 1990
Brigadier General Sept. 1, 1993
Major General Oct. 1, 1996
Lieutenant General May 1, 1999
General April 21, 2005

(Current as of June 2006)