The Perennial Problem Playbook for 'Militant Violence'
FIRST INSTANCE: The 'Militant' Label and Resource Control – 1950s Iran Zoom out for a second: The labeling of groups as 'militants' or 'extremists' to justify external intervention or support for specific regimes has a long history. In 1953, the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh of Iran was overthrown in a coup orchestrated by the CIA and MI6. Mosaddegh's 'crime'?
Nationalizing Iran's oil industry, which had been under British control. The subsequent narrative, heavily influenced by Western media, often depicted his government as unstable and a threat to regional security, paving the way for the Shah's autocratic rule and ensuring continued access to oil (Declassified CIA documents, 2013). REPETITIONS: Nigeria's Niger Delta and the 'Militant' Cycle – 2000s
Fast forward to the early 2000s in Nigeria. The Niger Delta region, rich in oil, saw a surge in armed groups labeled as 'militants.' While local grievances over environmental degradation and resource exploitation were undeniable, the international focus often shifted to 'restoring stability' for oil operations. In 2009, the Nigerian government launched an amnesty program, ostensibly to address the
'militancy.' However, critiques (Human Rights Watch, 2007) pointed to the ongoing involvement of state security forces in abuses and allegations that some 'militant' groups were tacitly supported or manipulated by political figures linked to oil interests. This period saw significant oil production disruptions, costing billions, yet the underlying issues of resource control and benefit