If, like me, you are largely ignorant of the successive dynasties of modern middle eastern history, you may be interested in these two articles. They both yield some history while going over the what ifs and should'ves that have led to the current world crisis.

The first article is part of kheper.auz.com, a very large and interesting personal site that dabbles, as mine does, in mysticism, world religion, and philosophy.

The other is via Arts & Letters Daily.