What could have been...
Just think, if the British govt had listened to TE Lawrence at the end of WW1, and created an independent Arab state with Damascus as its capital, all of the violence of the modern era might have been avoided.
There’d be no Islamic extremists, because they were a reaction to England's bitter betrayal, and it's continued outside meddling. There'd be no civil wars and regional conflicts, because at the end of WW1, when it was time for England to 'pay up,' all Arabs were (more or less) united behind the King of Mecca.
What’s more, if Europe had not betrayed the Arabs who put their faith in Lawrence, then it’s likely that this Arab state might well have been a very friendly place, holding Europe in high regard.
Israel likely wouldn't exist in this alternate version of the world, but then again, if England had behaved honorably toward the Arabs, then they might also have treated a defeated Germany with respect, making the formation of the Nazi party all but an impossibility.
What could have been…
There’d be no Islamic extremists, because they were a reaction to England's bitter betrayal, and it's continued outside meddling. There'd be no civil wars and regional conflicts, because at the end of WW1, when it was time for England to 'pay up,' all Arabs were (more or less) united behind the King of Mecca.
What’s more, if Europe had not betrayed the Arabs who put their faith in Lawrence, then it’s likely that this Arab state might well have been a very friendly place, holding Europe in high regard.
Israel likely wouldn't exist in this alternate version of the world, but then again, if England had behaved honorably toward the Arabs, then they might also have treated a defeated Germany with respect, making the formation of the Nazi party all but an impossibility.
What could have been…