Sent to the Middle East by Woodrow Wilson to ascertain the viability of self-determination in the disintegrating Ottoman Empire, the King-Crane Commission of 1919 was America's first foray into the region. The commission's controversial recommendations included the rejection of the idea of a Jewish state in Syria, US intervention in the Middle East and the end of French colonial aspirations. Here, in a book-length analysis of the King-Crane report, Andrew Patrick chronciles the history of early US involvement in the region, and challenges extant interpretations of the turbulent relationship between the United States and the Middle East.

Backdrop of the King-Crane Commission --Paris Peace Conference 1 : the idea of a commission -- Paris Peace Conference 2 : topsy-turvydom -- Pre-journey opinions -- Istanbul and Palestine -- Syria and Lebanon -- Istanbul, Paris and the recommendations -- Accounting for the differences 1 : the ability to become modern --|t Accounting for a the differences 2 : the King-Crane Commission and Wilsonian ideals.