In order to understand the United States' current involvement in the Middle East, it is essential to understand the origins of Western intervention in the region during World War I. During World War I, Britain and France conducted secret negotiations to carve up the Middle East into new nation states under their control. The resulting Sykes Picot treaty suppressed Arab self-determination and inaugurated a century of western intervention in the region with the United States later taking over the leading role. Our guest is Professor David Fromkin, the author of "A Peace to End All Peace, The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East".
Correction: A photo incorrectly identifies Kermit Roosevelt, Sr., rather than Kermit Roosevelt, Jr. as organizer of the 1953 Iran Coup.
Note: This YouTube production is based on an edition of the nationally broadcast radio series "History Counts", now called "In Context".
About "In Context"
In Context is broadcast on listener sponsored, non-commercial radio WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, Connecticut. The broadcast can be heard in most of Connecticut and parts of New York. Programs stream at www.wpkn.org and are archived after broadcast at www.incontextreport.com for free listening and download. Please visit our website for the current broadcast schedule, audio podcasts, videos and original articles.
History Counts and In Context are produced by MDR Productions, Inc. This YouTube edition of History Counts was created for MDR Productions by Ken MacDermotRoe.
Copyright MDR Productions, Inc. 2012