Overview

In the spring of 2001, Robert Jordan was a Dallas attorney whom George Bush wanted for the ambassadorship in Saudi Arabia. Not yet confirmed on 9/11, Jordan's nomination sped through Congress for approval and he found himself on the ground in the Kingdom by early October. Jordan had no prior diplomatic experience-Saudi Arabia mandates that the U.S. Ambassador be a political appointee with the ear of the president-and was forced to learn to run an embassy, deal with a foreign culture, and protect U.S. interests on the job all in the wake of the most significant terrorist attack on the United States in history. Furthermore, Jordan arrived in Saudi Arabia shortly after it became clear that the country had spawned not only the mastermind Osama bin Laden, but also 15 of the 19 hijackers. Desert Diplomat: Inside Saudi Arabia following 9/11 gives an inside account of the fascinating and historic ambassadorship of Robert Jordan from 2001 through 2003. As the newly-installed ambassador, he had to press the Saudis on terrorism while maintaining a positive relationship to ensure their cooperation with the war in Afghanistan and invasion of Iraq. Throughout his appointment he had first-hand dealings with the uppermost echelon of Washington power including President Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, George Tenet, and Tommy Franks while working with the Crown Prince Abdullah and other top Saudi leaders. Desert Diplomat provides a honest portrait of working with these prominent individuals, details of the historic decisions of Jordan's tenure, and a candid assessment the distressing amount of dysfunction in the way American foreign policy, warfare, and intelligence-gathering was conducted.

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9781612346700

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Reviews

Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed. <i>Desert Diplomat</i> should be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East. --General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author of <i>The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose</i>--General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014)

Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed. Desert Diplomat should be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East. --General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U. S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose --General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014)

Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed. Desert Diplomat should be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East. General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America s Power and Purpose --General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014)

No Arab ally of the U. S. is more important or less understood than Saudi Arabia. Robert Jordan went to Riyadh as our ambassador just after the 9/11 attacks when America was asking which side they were on. His unique personal relationships and superb analyses made it clear that the Saudis stood with us, but we also had to understand them. I know. I worked with him from Washington almost every day. Desert Diplomat tells the story of a critical relationship at a critical time, and how a great diplomat, Robert Jordan, can turn the hinge of history. We are at another turn--may we be as wise as he was in making it. --Ryan C. Crocker, former deputy assistant secretary of state, 2001-03, and former ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan --Ryan C. Crocker (12/08/2014) -Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed. Desert Diplomat should be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East.---General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose--General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014) -No Arab ally of the United States is more important or less understood than Saudi Arabia. Robert Jordan went to Riyadh as our ambassador just after the 9/11 attacks when America was asking which side they were on. His unique personal relationships and superb analyses made it clear that the Saudis stood with us, but we also had to understand them. . . . Desert Diplomat tells the story of a critical relationship at a critical time, and how a great diplomat, Robert Jordan, can turn the hinge of history. We are at another turn--may we be as wise as he was in making it.---Ryan C. Crocker, former deputy assistant secretary of state, 2001-3, and former ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan --Ryan C. Crocker (12/08/2014) Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed. Desert Diplomat should be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East. --General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author of The Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America's Power and Purpose--General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014) No Arab ally of the United States is more important or less understood than Saudi Arabia. Robert Jordan went to Riyadh as our ambassador just after the 9/11 attacks when America was asking which side they were on. His unique personal relationships and superb analyses made it clear that the Saudis stood with us, but we also had to understand them. . . . Desert Diplomat tells the story of a critical relationship at a critical time, and how a great diplomat, Robert Jordan, can turn the hinge of history. We are at another turn--may we be as wise as he was in making it. --Ryan C. Crocker, former deputy assistant secretary of state, 2001-3, and former ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan --Ryan C. Crocker (12/08/2014) Robert Jordan has written a fascinating and insightful book that provides a rare inside view of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East during the events following 9/11. It is a historically significant work from a seasoned diplomat who draws valuable lessons from his experiences and observations that would be wise for our current and future leaders to heed.Desert Diplomatshould be required reading for all those involved in developing our strategy and policy for the Middle East. General Anthony C. Zinni (USMC, Ret.), former commander in chief of U.S. Central Command, former special envoy to the Middle East, and author ofThe Battle for Peace: A Frontline Vision of America s Power and Purpose--General Anthony C. Zinni (12/08/2014) No Arab ally of the United States is more important or less understood than Saudi Arabia. Robert Jordan went to Riyadh as our ambassador just after the 9/11 attacks when America was asking which side they were on. His unique personal relationships and superb analyses made it clear that the Saudis stood with us, but we also had to understand them. . . .Desert Diplomattells the story of a critical relationship at a critical time, and how a great diplomat, Robert Jordan, can turn the hinge of history. We are at another turn may we be as wise as he was in making it. Ryan C. Crocker, former deputy assistant secretary of state, 2001 3, and former ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan--Ryan C. Crocker (12/08/2014)

Author Information

Robert W. Jordan is Diplomat in Residence and adjunct professor of political science in the John G. Tower Center for Political Studies at Southern Methodist University. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2003 and as a partner in the international law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. for many years where he headed Middle East practice in Dubai. Steve Fiffer has written for the New York Times and is the author or coauthor of numerous books, including Three Quarters, Two Dimes, and a Nickel: A Memoir of Becoming Whole. James A. Baker III served as the sixty-first U.S. secretary of state.

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