[Sam Gamgee]

So they hid reasons of pragmatism in moral drag? (Much like the French do now in excusing Iran). But, I do recall the Brits trying to rewrite Islamic history in India to keep peace in that region. Whitewashing Moslem atrocities against the Indians to keep India stabilized.

But I suppose America has engaged in similar activities - not allowing Israel to continue its advance against Egypt in the Yom Kippur, to allow the Egyptians to save face.

[carton253]

Well, the Americans did not allow Israel to continue its advance because the Russians were threatening to escalate the war by becoming active participants. It really had little to do with the Egyptians saving face.

Re the British: I don't think they were trying to hide their pragmatism. They weren't going to risk the Empire to place what they considered an unviable state in a region where it was not welcomed.