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One of the greatest
statesman the world has known, Winston Churchill was a superior
strategist, inspiring war leader, classic orator and superb writer
with a great breadth of mind and profound sense of history.
Born into a privileged British family, Churchill had a colorful career as a soldier and war correspondent before
he entered politics as a member of parliament. When Lawrence publicly refused to accept his gallantry medals Churchill
realized the deep discontent among Arabs.
Churchill first encountered T.E. Lawrence after World War I when, as Colonial Secretary, he was charged with making a new and more
just settlement in the Middle East. He determined to assemble the best and brightest of Britain's Middle
East experts. Despite Lawrence's maverick reputation Churchill could not overlook his vast knowledge
of the Arabs and their needs.
Churchill persuaded Lawrence back into public service in 1921 with a special post
in the Colonial office. Lawrence had enormous respect for Churchill and genuinely believed they could repair the injury
done to the Arabs at the Paris Peace Conference, stabilize the region and remove British armed forces.
The Cairo Conference set out to achieve this end and resulted in Feisal being given a Kingdom in Iraq and his
brother the throne of neighboring Transjordan.
Lawrence later wrote:
"In Winston's 1922 settlement of the Middle East the Arabs obtained all that in my opinion they had been
promised by Great Britain, in any sphere in which we were free to act".
The pair remained in contact until Lawrence's death in 1935 when Churchill headed the list of notable mourners.
He said of Lawrence:
"I fear whatever our need we shall never see his like again."
Churchill went on to lead his country through the darkest hours of World War II as both Prime Minister
and Minister of Defense between 1940-1945. He returned for a second term in 1951, was knighted in
1953 and resigned as Prime Minister in 1955.
Churchill remained in politics until 1964, dying a few short months
later at the grand old age of 90.
Read one of Churchill's
tributes to Lawrence
T.E.Lawrence | Prince
Feisal | General Allenby | King
Hussein | Dahoum | Winston Churchill
| Lowell Thomas | Auda
Abu Tayeh
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