For the Advisers-What are your thoughts on Colonel Lawrence and his Legacy in the Middle East

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:43:46 -0400

Colonel T.E. Lawrence, known as "Lawrence of Arabia" owing to immense publicity in the West, single-handedly converted the Arab war against the Turks during WWI into a movement that forever changed the face of the Middle East. For those who served as advisers to foreign military personnel, what are your thoughts and opinions on this officer's impact...for better or worse...and are there any lessons for us today?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 10:51 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:51:30 -0400

Influence is a powerful and potentially dangerous thing. I think that is the biggest take away. We often underestimate the effects we have on foreign affairs in both politics and the public.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2015 10:55 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:55:18 -0400

When I was training for the ETT mission in Afghanistan, we studied Lawrence as an example of both "what to do"...and "what not to do". Among the many aspects of his mission that were touted as "successful" were his ability to understand the tribal nature of the Bedouin and influence others on behalf of Faisal towards a confederation to defeat the Turks-which served British interests. However, his overall division of loyalty between the aims of the Arabs towards independence, and the eventual goals of both England and France were highlighted as "dangers" of "going native"...In light of the recent reports, I was struck by the potential risks in placing people without the correct qualifications (After all, Lawrence was virtually a "native" in his own right by the outbreak of WWI in the East) into such vital and potentially complex roles.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Sep 22 at 2015 10:56 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 10:56:24 -0400

You should also read the stories of and by Gertrude Bell who was the "Oriental Secretary" in the British Government. She worked closely with T.E. Lawrence and was pretty much responsible for the establishing of Jordan and Iraq .. pretty much drawing the map of the middle-east as it is today.

Read T.E. and Ms. Bell and you will gain a HUGE insight into what drives the middle-east.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Bell

Gertrude Bell - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE (14 July 1868– 12 July 1926) was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along with T. E. Lawrence, Bell helped establish the Hashemite dynasties in what...

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Sep 22 at 2015 12:34 PM

Col Joseph Lenertz — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:34:48 -0400

Another "effective" agent of change in the Middle East was Philip of Macedon's son, Alexander. I recommend "The Generalship of Alexander the Great", by Fuller. The region can be changed, but not without religion and blood.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Sep 22 at 2015 12:53 PM

MAJ Keira Brennan — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 12:53:09 -0400

Lawrence hit more than a few truths squarely on the head! 1st, don’t generalize. He knew that there were “Arabs and Arabs” meaning that there exists political strata that the West will never fully understand. Lawrence knew it was important to be culturally competent and accept culture positively and unconditionally (with the obvious exceptions towards the brutality to women and children). Being sensitive to religion, tradition and language and language imparts a sense of community that very often overcomes the “infidel” mentality and invites a sense of Ahl al-Kitāb (People of the Book) where there are real and defined roles with expectations.
I learned these valuable truths from AARs garnered during the late days of Bosnia / SFOR. They served me and my team well in KFOR 2 and then OEF 7. You don’t have to be a FAO or SME to make these work.
Separate the enemy from the population.
Thanks for this question and best of luck to all those going down range!!!!!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2015 9:31 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 21:31:16 -0400

Must I be an advisor to answer?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 22 at 2015 11:49 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 23:49:36 -0400

He drank hot sweet tea with his hosts and conversed with them in the local tongue, waiting for the Shamal to pass. Lawrence immersed himself in to their culture, lived with them, broke bread with them. Eventually he was able to gain their trust.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 10:43 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 22:43:48 -0400

The biggest difference between TEL and modern day advisors is what he was allowed to do. He had influence because he had access. Let a bunch of modern day advisors live amongst tribes instead of on FOBs and you'd see more influence.