Under orders from Kitchener himself, an attempt was to be made to bribe the Turkish commander of the Kut siege into letting Townshend's army go in return for one million English pounds' worth of gold. If Lawrence resented being the bearer of this shameful instruction, almost without precedent in British military history, he never let on. Then again, he'd very recently been given two reminders of the puffery and hypocrisy of military culture.
In an unusual military maneuver, Kitchener ordered an attempt to bribe the Turkish commander during the Kut siege, offering one million pounds worth of gold for the release of Townshend's trapped army. Lawrence, tasked with delivering this controversial order, felt conflicted about participating in such a dishonorable act, a move rarely seen in British military history. Yet, he concealed his discomfort and carried out the directive.
This situation further highlighted Lawrence's awareness of the contradictions and moral ambiguities within military culture. He had already faced reminders of the inflated rhetoric and deceit prevalent in the armed forces, which added to his internal struggle with the orders he was given.
