Curse of T.E. Lawrence's Promise: The Phony Nation of IraqJack WheelerWednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 The most legendary American journalist of the 20th century was Lowell Thomas. I had the opportunity to meet him in 1978 when we were guests on the Merv Griffin show. Off camera, I asked him, "Do you feel you contributed, however inadvertently, to the political mess that is the Middle East today?” He looked at me sharply and asked me what I meant. "Well, after all,” I answered, "it was you who gave Lawrence’s promise to the Hashemites so much power.” His eyes narrowed, and...