SteelFistVelvetGlove
1st July 2004, 23:06
1534 - 1916 Iraq is part of Ottoman Turkish Empire, ruled by Sultanate in Istanbul
1914 -1918 World War I
British promise Arab independence in return for Arab "revolt" against Turkish Empire. In secret, British and French (with Russian consent) make Sykes-Picot Treaty dividing Arab lands between them in League of Nations approved mandates or protectorates.
For an on-line map see: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gov46/sykes-picot-1916.gif
1920 - 1923 The working out of these agreements result in the British simply drawing the boundary lines of new countries like Iraq, Kuwait and even adjusting Saudi Arabia's claims on oil rich lands. British put an Arab prince, Faisal, a foreigner to Iraqis, on the throne. It is these impositions that Arab nationalists still regard as a crime against all Arabs and why Iraq claims rights to Kuwait.
1914 -1918 World War I
British promise Arab independence in return for Arab "revolt" against Turkish Empire. In secret, British and French (with Russian consent) make Sykes-Picot Treaty dividing Arab lands between them in League of Nations approved mandates or protectorates.
For an on-line map see: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gov46/sykes-picot-1916.gif
1920 - 1923 The working out of these agreements result in the British simply drawing the boundary lines of new countries like Iraq, Kuwait and even adjusting Saudi Arabia's claims on oil rich lands. British put an Arab prince, Faisal, a foreigner to Iraqis, on the throne. It is these impositions that Arab nationalists still regard as a crime against all Arabs and why Iraq claims rights to Kuwait.