Middle Eastern Politics and Special Forces have their origins with the epic tale of Thomas Edward Lawrence, known famously as Lawrence of Arabia for his bold unification of the Arab Tribes against the Ottoman Empire and subsequent book The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. His service for the British Empire made him both revered and controversial, as the Sykes-Picot agreement would foil his dream for Arabian nationhood. Nevertheless, his writings are to this day studied by Western forces in the Middle East, for their insights on geopolitics, spirituality, and personal development.