In 1944, Guatemala experienced a revolution that led to the first democratic elections the country had seen since its dictatorship of the 1930s. The government began a land reform in 1953, causing many elites in Guatemala to lose property. These elites succeeded in convincing the United States Congress and President Eisenhower that Guatemala was moving closer toward communism and friendship with the Soviets.
The CIA overthrew Guatemala's government in 1954 with Operation PBSUCCESS. The operation ended the country's leftist democracy, but it failed to secure a stable alternative. It was criticized as an exercise in colonialism.

Which of these best explains why the United States took actions against Guatemala's government?