"The True Story of Lawrence of Arabia" Topic

"Sipping tea and chain-smoking L&M cigarettes in his reception tent in Mudowarra, Sheik Khaled Suleiman al-Atoun waves a hand to the outside, in a generally northern direction. "Lawrence came here, you know?" he says. "Several times. The biggest time was in January of 1918. He and other British soldiers came in armored cars and attacked the Turkish garrison here, but the Turks were too strong and they had to retreat." He pulls on his cigarette, before adding with a tinge of civic pride: "Yes, the British had a very hard time here."

While the sheik was quite correct about the resiliency of the Turkish garrison in Mudowarra—the isolated outpost held out until the final days of World War I—the legendary T.E. Lawrence's "biggest time" there was open to debate. In Lawrence's own telling, that incident occurred in September 1917, when he and his Arab followers attacked a troop train just south of town, destroying a locomotive and killing some 70 Turkish soldiers.

The southernmost town in Jordan, Mudowarra was once connected to the outside world by means of that railroad. One of the great civil-engineering projects of the early 20th century, the Hejaz Railway was an attempt by the Ottoman sultan to propel his empire into modernity and knit together his far-flung realm…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The movie made in the 60's with the late Peter O'Tool playing Lawrence was as much fact as fiction, but none the less entertaining … Much of the truth of Lawrence and the Arab uprising against the Turks is still a bit of a mystery, in many ways. After having read many articles, etc. on the subject, it still can be a bit polarizing on either end, etc. … After all, the Victors write the history … My favorite part of the movie, whether accurate or not, was when all the Arab tribes met in Damascus. And attempted to run the city, not coming to any agreement on many topics, etc., etc. They only ended up insulting other tribes, arguing, threating, etc. … and really getting nothing done. It may have been an accurate scene from the standpoint of being prescient.
To what had and is still happening in the Africa, ME and SWA and appears it will continue. As long as the regions are ruled by tribalism fueled by 15th Century ways and blinded by a corrupted version of their religion(s) …

Lawrence's own biography is as much fact as fiction.

I found the Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence a fascinating read.

I've heard the same Rod … I read the Seven Pillars in high school so I don't remember much …

Top post as alwas Tango01

Many thanks my friend!. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand