Publication

This report builds bridges between academic history of the Middle East and foreign policy-making in the region. It demonstrates that resting on attractive analogies often lead to bad policies, as exemplified by US leaders' reference to World War II to justify the invasion of Iraq. The author argues that historical precedent, drawn from the past of the region in question, is a safer guide to policy. She highlights Arabs' memories of World War I as a useful key to understanding Arab politics and reaction to foreign intervention.