Fiscus, James. "American Mandate"
Divergence: 1918 CE
What if: The Ottoman Empire's attempt to surrender in autumn 1918 via the America government was not ignored, and a year later the U.S. was sufficiently involved with the League of Nations as to accept a Mandate for Constantinople.
Summary: A few years later the U.S. is embroiled in a bloody mess as Mustafa Kemal's nationalists, flush with success against the Greeks in Anatolia, fight to restore Turkish unity. The U.S. military believes it is time to leave, but the governor and others plan to remain in order to exploit access to oil.
Published: In Alternate Generals II (ed. Harry Turtledove), q.v.