Lessons from History in the Middle East

Available for over a year

The US State Department says 50 countries have pledged to support the fight against the Islamic State. They are doing so for all sorts of different reasons – but in general terms they are hoping to prevent the Islamic State either redrawing the boundaries of the Middle East or launching terror attacks. Kevin Connolly has been considering the difficult questions that are being raised by the conflict and remembering the lessons from history. You have probably heard of a bubble bath and a mud bath but what about a crude oil bath? Rob Crossan has been having one in Azerbaijan and learning about the healing properties of oil. Presented by Owen Bennett Jones Produced by Laura Gray (Photo: General William C. Mayville Jr., Joint Staff Director of Operations, speaks about airstrikes in Syria, 2014. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images)