The countries (the U.K., France, Russia) that are currently taking on military roles in Syria were here 100 years ago, again to change the destiny of the region. The same countries are also active in breaking the region into pieces in such a way that it will never be possible to restore it again. These powers found partners to serve their dirty interests in the past, and unfortunately they still do.
U.K. history academic John D. Grainger's book, “The battle for Syria 1918-1920,” published in 2013, is very important in that it highlights how the things that happened in the 'past' affect 'today.' The author describes the “Middle East” of the 20th century as a “region that has been harassed,” and says that this has continued in the 21st century. The first abuse of the country, as an international interest, started during the “Great War,” upon the Ottoman Empire joining the war and being attacked by its allies.
According to Grainger, all regions belonging to the Ottoman Empire from Istanbul to Yemen, Libya to Caucasia, Cairo to Baghdad, were under attack, yet the most difficult, surprising and complicated region was Syria. This is a geographical term used for the area including Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the West Bank, Jordan, Egypt and parts of Turkey. Grainger, expressing that the area being divided in terms of religious communities for the past 1,500 years, says in the preface of the book:" The close reason of the Ottoman provinces becoming a source of conspiracy and corruption with the evils of the modern world is that it was taken over by U.K. Forces in 1917 and 1918. The Brits has made a range of promises, some of them impossible to fulfill, to other communities and countries. Despite being under the pressure of a horrific war, the U.K. had maintained a lavish attitude that didn't worry about whether the promises it made clashed or not. Therefore, many conflicts arose in 1918 and 1919. Thus, difficulties have continued since then.”
Grainger draws attention on the fact that the Englishmen name the war on Palestine in September 1918, as "Megiddo," which is referred to as "Armageddon" among the public. "Megiddo" didn't actively participate in the war, but was tasked with naming the last war, the doomsday, that was to end all the other wars. This war however, wasn't a war to end the other wars, but "a war to start other wars."
According to Grainger, a definition of the war is a compulsory factor of the overall narrative, because planning the war; carrying it out and exploiting the results have been a part of the historical development of the region for years. Even if it isn't an "Armageddon," it is a civil war for Syria, which will take it toward a result. Grainger's book discusses the period, day to day and front to front, from the fall of Jerusalem to the fall of Damascus, based on English and French resources, yet preserves its academic impartiality. Grainger's book deserves to be read in this respect.
