> "So the Arab states were propped up by the Americans and the British following the 1st World War" Actually, The United States had little to nothing to do wit

> "So the Arab states were propped up by the Americans and the British following the 1st World War" Actually, The United States had little to nothing to do with propping them up after the First World War[1] and the Middle East became temporary colonies of the British and French. The actual agreements behind that started not long after the outbreak of the war and was a joint British/French/Russian operation. They came up with the decisions about how to carve up the former Ottoman Empire (much of that was done prior to the US entering the war). Syria itself became a French Colony. The US was a minor player (comparatively speaking) in influencing the outlook of post war Eastern/Western Europe and the Middle East. It would have probably been to the long term advantage of the victorious European Powers to actually listen to the initial suggestions of President Wilson[2] and The United States about terms for peace with Germany. If they had, we would have most likely prevented a Second World War, as Wilson recommended against harsh punishment and restitution towards Germany. If interested in knowing more, I'd recommend reading the writings of T.E. Lawrence and/or watching Lawrence of Arabia. There's a number of other good sources as well, but those are a starting point. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Empire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitioning_of_the_Ottoman_Emp... [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_wilson#Treaty_fight.2C_1919 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodrow_wilson#Treaty_fight.2C_... [3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Points