Lawrence of Arabia - it's deja vu all over again.

[fizzana]

After liberating the region from the Turks in World War I, Britain ruled the newly formed country of Iraq under a mandate from the League of Nations. The population's gratitude for having been freed from 400 years of Ottoman oppression was short-lived. There were uprisings and assassinations of British soldiers and civilian administrators.

Lawrence was sent back to Baghdad to report on conditions there. He wrote these haunting words: "The people of England have been led in Mesopotamia into a trap from which it will be hard to escape with dignity and honor. They have been tricked into it by a steady withholding of information Things have been far worse than we have been told, our administration more bloody and inefficient than the public knows. We are today not far from a disaster."
The application of Lawrence's theory to the current military situation in Iraq is not comforting. First, the rebels seem to possess an unassailable base in both physical and psychological terms.

Within Iraq, hostile forces have demonstrated an ongoing ability to launch numerous daily attacks. The continuing inability to capture Saddam Hussein is the most significant evidence of this problem. Externally, there is a base of bordering states like Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran that are failing to stop volunteers from infiltrating Iraq. American troops have found foreign passports on the bodies of enemy forces killed. Perhaps more troubling, however, is the psychological "base" — the mind of the enemy. When religious extremism is mixed with nationalistic fervor, it cements to form the bricks of unshakeable conviction. As Lawrence himself noted, "An opinion can be argued with; a conviction is best shot."


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-keane18sep18,1,6235437.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions

[candy331]

1. If only

the thirst for possession and power people would read and understand this.

[KoKo]

2. What's even more chilling is applying his quote to our present WH Squatter

& his henchmen, Rummy, Asscroft & the PNAC crowd......... This quote from Lawrence:

When religious extremism is mixed with nationalistic
fervor, it cements to form the bricks of unshakeable conviction. As Lawrence
himself noted, "An opinion can be argued with; a conviction is best shot."
:scared:

[joeybee12]

3. Lawrence of Arabia was gay, SOOOOOOOOOOOO.........

Who do you think is the modern day equivalent?

There might not be one--Lawrence at least won over some Arabs--we appear not to have won over any!

[KoKo]

4. What does Lawrence's Sexual Preference have to do with anything?

You must not have read my reply........what are you talking about?

[lanlady]

5. no one knows for sure

It was whispered at the time that he was gay because he showed no interest in women. But he showed no sexual interest in men either. It's believed he died a virgin.