I wonder if that documentary is based on an excellent 1994 book titled "The Great Game" by Peter Hopkirk.
I read it a number of years ago. It explains most every thing about the 100 year plus experience the British had in that part of the world. It should have been required reading for the W administration in 2001. But they were too arrogant and/or not curious enough to bother. This same problem still exists today in the present administration.
Not sure but I read Mr. Hopkirk's book too in the mid-90's. A must read for history buff's and our generals too I would hope.
It amazes me how all the great powers keep repeating the same mistakes.
While I agree with Trump ...
keep reading 
... that we need to extricate ourselves out of the Middle East, his ham-handed execution leaves a lot to be desired and puts us in a bind with our allies and at a disadvantage with the Russians and the Assad/Iranian regimes geopolitically. And to sacrifice the Kurd's, the only true & reliable ally besides the Israeli's in the region, is criminal.
Proving once again that we can not be counted on and will tuck & run at the first sign of trouble, unless you're willing to pay us as mercenaries. Obviously the Saudi's and Egyptians got the meme. Our Western European allies & Israel have to be deeply troubled by current events in the region with this decision.
To just toss the Kurd's to the curb, a true fighting counterweight, to Erdoğan and to the Syrian/Russian/Iranian nexus is not just callous but geopolitically stupid in the long run. Our influence in the region just went down a notch.
