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A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the struggle that shaped the Middle East by James Barr |
Metaphorically, a line in the sand means a point beyond which one should proceed no further. But in reality, the line, from Acre to Kirkuk, drawn up by Sykes and Picot in secret in 1916 ended nothing. Indeed, it started the bitter rivalry between France and Britain for Middle Eastern dominance which, Barr argues, is the root cause of most of today's troubles in this most troubled of regions. Altogether, a shocking, and grubby tale.
(Jeremy Miller - bwl 66 Autumn 2012 ) |
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