4. The Iraqi Revolt
What Was It? After World War I the League of Nations wished to thank the people of the Middle East by granting their own independent states from territory that used to make up the majority of the fallen Ottoman Empire. However, the League decreed that the Entente powers guide these new free people along the way- known as Mandates. This relationship soon soured in Iraq as the local people began to grow distrustful of the British Mandate- believing that they were merely another occupying force for imperial glory rather than for any selfless motives. This was not helped by the fact that the British did not understand many of the ethnic differences between Sunni, Shia and Kurds and did not seemed that bothered to learn. The revolt would infamously see tear gas being used on Kurdish forces on the order of Winston Churchill- who would go on to lead the British in World War II. Why Would COD Never Happen Here? There is little about this conflict that would appeal to the Call of Duty universe as it is war that entirely avoidable. The British were indifferent to many of the complaints of the Iraqis and were unwilling to acknowledge the cultural history of their nation- hence the natural tension between the two forces. It is also difficult to empathise with a side that advocates using tear gas and worse as a weapon.