While headline-hunting senators spent their time smearing Protestant ministers and ordering books burned our authorities on Communism in Washington, D.C., have permitted the Russians to out-smart us in another deal that may rank with Korea and the loss of Red China in world importance. Oil-rich Iran has been seized by the Communists in a move that could have been foreseen—and was—a year ago.

Many American newspapermen, editors, foreign affairs observers, and plain citizens predicted that unless the United States took positive action that Russia would find a way to woo or win Iran. The stakes were high—Russia now has her hands on oil fields and installations to fuel her sub fleet and airforce. Despite the high stakes our diplomats and politicians failed to take any effective action. Now the man who was friendly to the U.S. and the West, the young Shah, is in exile, and Mossadegh, backed by Red supporters, is completely in control.

The Shah may make a comeback, but if he does it will call for bloodshed that might spread to inflame all of the Middle East, and possibly the world.

The greenest strategist knows that when a big military or diplomatic coup is planned the thing to do is to distract the adversary’s attention. Yet when Russia “went soft” regarding Korea our leaders failed to heed the warning.

If America loses her position of world leadership it may well be because of the blunders of our own leaders rather than due to the ability of our enemies.