I came across an atlas from 1927, I had bought it at a used bookstore many years ago. There was quite a bit of interest over a map of U.S. highways I scanned, so I figured I'd keep sharing. However, I wanted to preface this one with some commentary.
I know most people are probably familiar with the history of the Middle East, or at least are aware that the countries that exist today have not been around for a long time. Of course the people have been there, but geopolitical demarcations have changed many times in just the last 80 years. Take a look for yourself. At this point, of course, Israel did not yet exist. Iraq, as we know it, was still referred to as Mesopotamia. Don't take my word for this, go read up on it. From Wikipedia:
At the end of World War I, the League of Nations granted the area to the United Kingdom as a mandate. It was formed out of three former Ottoman vilayets (regions): Mosul, Baghdad and Basra.
For three out of four centuries of Ottoman rule, the vilayets of Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra were administered from Baghdad. During the British mandate, the country was ruled by British colonial administrators who used the British armed forces to put down rebellions against the government. They selected the Hashemite king, Faisal, who had been forced out of Syria by the French, to be their client ruler.
Iran was still Persia, Pakistan didn't exist. The so-called Axis of Evil is nowhere to be found. This was merely 80 years ago.
Take a look at the maps. It helps all of this sink in. My point, if any, is to consider how much change these areas have seen in such a short period of time.
The point is, it is naive to think that all the troubles of this region can be solved in a few years, with some shoddy diplomacy and a lot of troops. The "war on terror", a mere 5 or so years in the making... look at it with some perspective. I wish someone at the White House would have bought this old atlas instead of me. Perhaps it would have made someone stop and think for a minute.