AllMovie

This program chronicles the history of American involvement in warfare during the 20th century. Starting with the Spanish American War and ending with the Gulf War, the United States participated in a century of turmoil, marked by two world wars. Wars took a huge toll in lives and suffering in a steady course of conflict, punctuated by a few years of peace. The Time Life series evaluates the causes and costs of warfare in the last century. The decisions made at the end of World War II were to have far reaching repercussions in the Middle East. This episode examines the events in the region, from the formation of the state of Israel through the various conflicts that took place between the U.S. backed nation and its neighbors. Archival film clips, photographs, news accounts, interviews, and scholarly commentary give insight into the complex issues at work in the Middle East that pose a continued threat to world peace.