1 What major place Middle East wake WWI 300 words 2 What observed Middle East wake U.S. invasion Iraq 2003 300 words 3 How impact wars similar 100 words

¶ … World War I and its Effect on the Middle East

The Europeans who had already colonized much of the area with post-World War I now spread further into the Middle East claiming further portions such as Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Palestine. The Constantinople Agreement followed by many more including the Sykes Picot agreement over and again implemented covert agreements regarding lands that would go to each of the Allies. After the war, France received Lebanon and Syria (

) even though Syria herself preferred an American mandate (2), and Britain received land that included Palestine, Israel, Transjordan, and Iraq (3). The indigenous people themselves were never consulted regarding whom they wished to control them, and colonization, consequently, prompted Arabic nationalism.

Nationalism was, furthermore, created by the fact that the peace settlements imposed by the Allies after World War I broke up nation states and created others, confusing many who, originally believing that they would be provided with their own state, now found themselves minorities in an alien region (4). This random carving up of nation-states across borders despite historical and original geographic parameters alienated, confused -- and then angered many. Treatment of the indigenous inhabitants was also bigoted, intolerant and, oftentimes, unjust, with the European powers more concerned for their own welfare than for the economic and political well being of their wards. Jordan, for instance, was compelled to rely on Britain for its sustenance for it was quickly depleted of its economic resources (5)

Nationalism provided the nations with a sense of identity that had been lost in the reckless uprooting of nations. Nationalism was, essentially, uprooted nations seeking a sense of identity, be it Zionism that clung to the Balfour Declaration and called Israel its home, and the Palestinian national identity that developed in response to Zionism (6).

Nationalism also introduced nationally inspired violence. Violence had always been present, much of it in a religious form. Now it took new shape as nationalist or political status.

Unrest also festered in the Middle East due to perceived incompetence and corruption of the Arab leaders. The governments of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq surrendered to coups in 1949 and 1958, and nationalism in Egypt developed after Nasser usurped power leading to Pan Arabism in an attempt to transcend their borders and rise above imperialist influences.

It seems as though the Arab Middle East was never able to overcome the tumultuous changes introduced in the region by post-World War I. Used to living for centuries under their own leaders and a comparatively unvarying status of traditional life, the modern Middle East found themselves uprooted with borders confused, alien masters with an alien religion and threatening ways controlling them, and the different branches of Islam mixed up and compelled, against their will, to be subordinated to or to live one with the other. These changes bred dissension and caused identity problems that led to the fervor for nationalism: a land and an identity to call their own. Different nationalist movements mushroomed and sprung up, often in mutual opposition and discord. The greed of the Post- World War European colonizers seeded events that have negative ramifications up to this day with no foreseeable solution in the future.

The Aftermath of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The 2003 invasion of Iraq prompted a series of conflicts in Iraq and led to the conflict known as the Iraq war or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The invasion itself was characterized by the United States and Britain along with smaller sized troops from Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled it in 21 days. The aftermath resulted in Operation Iraqi Freedom, which lasted until 2010, followed by Operation New Dawn.

Reports of Iraq storing nuclear weapons were likely erroneous7, but increasingly strong pressure from American policy influencers called for an American presence with Iraqi changes as essential for American foreign policy (8). Claims have stated that the war was also initiated for Iraqi oil (9). Criticism regarding the invasion and its aftermath was ongoing and vociferous from several American allies, and many American themselves opposed what they saw as needless interference in Iraqi concerns.

Many of the criticisms are reminiscent of Post World War I ramifications on the Middle East including the European greed for possession (here it may be American greed for oil); American interference that has led to destabilization of region -- this is particularly so since Western ways at odds to religion and region have been introduced; and consequent upsurge in nationalism.

The rationale used for waging the war has also been questioned. The post war European nations had their own excuses for colonizing the Middle East. Most often, it was similar to that of America -- i.e. To defend their own specific country and/or to introduce progress into the region. Ultimately, their interested swerved around themselves. American interest in Iraq has too many of these similarities.