# Nebk: Strategy and Deception explained — Seven Pillars of Wisdom > Chapter companion for Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence. ## What happens Lawrence, Auda, and Nasir establish a base at Nebk, where Nesib pushes for a premature attack on Damascus. Lawrence argues for the strategic necessity of capturing Akaba first, to secure a base and link with the British. He reflects on the moral fraud of the Arab Revolt, his own complicity in deceiving the Arabs about British promises, and his resolve to make the revolt succeed despite the betrayal. The chapter ends with a farewell feast and Auda's playful story about Mohammed el Dheilan. ## Themes in this chapter ### Honor and Deception Lawrence grapples with his role in deceiving the Arabs about British promises, feeling shame yet continuing the fraud for strategic ends. ### Futility and Meaning Lawrence questions the meaning of his actions, seeing the revolt as built on false pretenses but hoping to redeem it through victory. ### War and Guerrilla Tactics The debate over Akaba vs. Damascus highlights guerrilla strategy: securing a base and linking with allies before striking deep. ## Character check-ins ### T.E. Lawrence Lawrence argues for Akaba over Damascus, reflects on his deception of the Arabs, and plans a northern reconnaissance. ### Auda abu Tayi Auda hosts a farewell feast and tells a humorous invented story about Mohammed el Dheilan's pearl necklace. ### Sherif Nasir Nasir supports Lawrence's plan for Akaba and is delighted to receive extra funds from Nesib. ### Nesib el Bekri Nesib pushes for a Damascus-first strategy, is outmaneuvered by Lawrence, and leaves for the Druse Mountain. ### Mohammed el Dheilan Mohammed is the butt of Auda's joke about a pearl necklace, having been forced to guest with tribesmen. ### Nuri Shaalan Nuri Shaalan confronts Lawrence with conflicting British pledges, prompting Lawrence's agonized advice. ### Emir Feisal Feisal is mentioned as still in Wejh and as the recipient of Lawrence's earlier confession about hollow promises. ## Key lines > I pointed him in vain to Feisal yet in Wejh: to the British yet the wrong side of Gaza: to the new Turkish army massing in Aleppo to recover Mesopotamia. I showed how we in Damascus would be unsupported: without resources or organisation: without a base: without even a line of communication with our friends. Lawrence argued that capturing Damascus prematurely would leave them isolated, without supplies, organization, or a line of communication, while Feisal was still in Wejh and the British were far from Gaza. _Lawrence's strategic reasoning against Nesib's Damascus plan._ > I had no shadow of leave to engage the Arabs, unknowing, in a gamble of life and death. Inevitably and justly we should reap bitterness, a sorry fruit of heroic endeavour. Lawrence admits he had no authority to risk the Arabs' lives on a gamble based on false promises, foreseeing bitter consequences. _Lawrence's moral anguish over deceiving the Arabs._ > In revenge I vowed to make the Arab Revolt the engine of its own success, as well as handmaid to our Egyptian campaign: and vowed to lead it so madly in the final victory that expediency should counsel to the Powers a fair settlement of the Arabs' moral claims. Lawrence resolved to drive the Arab Revolt to such a decisive victory that the Allied powers would be forced to honor Arab claims for self-determination. _Lawrence's personal vow to redeem the deception through success._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters/xlviii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/seven_pillars_of_wisdom_se/chapters