In the end, they did join the winning side, though.
I pity the Ottoman Empire even more.... they chose the wrong side
and got their empire completely broken up and dismantled at the end
of the war.
It has been argued that the current volatility of Middle East has
its roots in the dismantling of the stabilising presence of the
Ottoman Empire.... though exactly just how 'stabilising' the
Ottomans were is open to debate.
