Britain's support for Zionism in Palestine had a strategic reason as well as a domestic political reason. The strategic reason related directly to securing the Port of Haifa as the terminus for Iraqi petroleum products.

Almost a century later, Washington followed in London's footsteps in Iraq.

Proponents of the regime change war cited two specific objectives: protection of Israel and access to hydrocarbon resources.

Protection of Israel was seen as bringing into being a regime in Iraq which would establish formal peaceful relations with Israel. If not, proponents argued, Iraq could be roughly divided back into its three former Ottoman-era parts thus neutralizing any threat to Israel from a strong unitary state.

In either case, proponents of the war argued that Israel would be well served.

Today, the same proponents of regime change war against Iraq now argue for regime change war against Syria and Iran.

Most see war against Syria as an opening gambit for a broader war against Iran. Because Syria is an ally of Iran, they say, eliminating it as a strategic factor in the region facilitates regime change in Iran.

But the regional situation is complex today and changing. So far, Damascus has stalemated the Anglo-French war against it. Saudi Arabia and Qatar support a combination of Muslim Brotherhood and Al Qaeda terrorist organizations fighting in Syria, while the US behind the scenes encourages the use of such groups as a necessary evil to promote regime change.

Instability is now spreading throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Iraq itself is confronted daily by terrorist organizations supported by Saudi Arabia. So it maintains friendship with Iran as a counterbalance. Jordan is making adjustments involving closer ties with Iraq and thus indirectly with Iran. Tension is rising in Lebanon.

Only a fool would argue that Washington has learned any appropriate lessons from the Iraq War.

The author is an educator and former senior professional staff member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn

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