Obama would never have said what he did about the 1953 coup if he did not have a relatively benign view of the nature of the Soviet Union. We did what we did, anyway, because Stalin was no longer around, and so the Soviets could not support Mossadegh, who was leading his own coup. Obama has a very “on-the-one-hand, and on=the-other” way of talking about events. In his case, however, both hands are left-hands.
People forget that Iran was essentially split between the Russians & the Brits during WW2.
He is a coward. And he is a man who wants to be popular with world leaders by not taking a stand. For really STANDlING TALL for nothing (oh, maybe a few mediocre words now and then). He is an EXPERT at style over substance!!