Review
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Bruce Riedel has written a thorough, inful and
provocative account of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as seen
through the eyes of Kings and Presidents. He proves that
understanding history is essential to guiding this very important
relationship forward during a time of growing regional
uncertainty.--George Tenet, former Director Central Intelligence
Agency Navigating the myriad complexities and cross currents of
U.S.-Saudi relations since the end of World War II is a daunting
process even for experienced foreign policy analysts. That
journey is made easier by Bruce Riedel's masterful new book,
Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States since
FDR. . . . While Riedel's recounting of the historical importance
of kings and presidents is admirable, perhaps the book's greatest
value is a brief but persuasive assessment of the issues shaping
Saudi Arabia now and in the future.--Jack Caravelli, The
Washington Free Beacon Kings and Presidents offers a quick and
inful tour through decades of ups and downs, from the oil
embargo in the 1970s to Iran-Contra in the 1980s to the s of
the Arab Spring. Better yet, Riedel, a former CIA officer who
advised several presidents, calls on years of U.S. government
experience to pepper his story with plenty of firsthand
recollections and anecdotes.--Foreign Policy As the Middle East
edges towards another era of convulsion with President Trump's
decision about Jerusalem, a new book helps put the turmoil in
perspective. Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United
States Since FDR is a timely analysis of the relationship's
history, a careful and respectful dance between a democratic
superpower and an autocratic monarchy, in managing common
interests including the oil trade and security since 1945.--Susan
Froetschel, YaleGlobal Online Riedel, a former National Security
Council staffer and CIA analyst, relies on unclassified sources
to present a lucid account of an often troubled
relationship.--John Waterbury, Foreign Affairs Political
histories are often a snooze, but Riedel is a lively, opinionated
writer whose sympathy with his subjects' viewpoints will
enlighten most readers.--Kirkus Reviews Few if any Americans have
the depth of experience of Bruce Riedel in dealing with the
volatile neighborhood inhabited by Saudi Arabia. In this
excellent new book, Riedel tells the history of US-Saudi ties
through the interactions of Saudi kings and American presidents.
He leavens the narrative with charming anecdotes, from the movie
Ibn Saud saw en route to his meeting with Franklin Roosevelt, to
the 'Dr. No'-style aquarium in the palace of King Abdullah. A
must-read for both scholars and the general public, the book
raises all the necessary questions about the future of the
Kingdom and its complicated alliance with the United
States.--Barbara Slavin, Director of the Future of Iran
Initiative at the Atlantic Council and author, Bitter Friends,
Bosom Enemies: Iran, the US and the Twisted Path to Confrontation
This riveting book is essential reading for anyone interested in
U.S. policy in the Middle East or Saudi Arabia. Riedel offers a
thorough, thoughtful and candid account of the diplomatic highs
and lows between two strange bedfellows. A great contribution to
the literature by someone who witnessed it play out from inside
the policy establishment and who has known the key
players.--Robin Wright, author of Rock the Casbah: Rage and
Rebellion across the Islamic World
From the Inside Flap
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An insiders account of the often-fraught U.S.-Saudi relationship
Saudi Arabia and the United States have been partners since 1943,
when President Franklin Roosevelt met with two Saudi
princesfuture monarchs representing their her, King Ibn
Saudat the White House. Subsequent U.S. presidents have had
direct relationships with those kings and their successors,
setting the tone for a special partnership between an absolute
monarchy with a unique Islamic identity and the worlds most
powerful democracy.
Although based in large part on economic interests, the
U.S.-Saudi relationship has rarely been smooth. Differences over
Israel have caused friction since the early days, and ambiguities
about Saudi involvementor lack of itin the September 11
terrorist attacks against the United States continue to haunt the
relationship. Now, both countries have new, still-to-be-tested
leaders in President Trump and King Salman.
Bruce Riedel has followed these kings and presidents during his
decades-long career at the CIA, the White House, and the
Brookings Institution. Kings and Presidents offers an insiders
account of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. Using declassified
documents, memoirs by both Saudis and Americans, and eyewitness
accounts, Riedels book takes the reader inside the royal
palaces,the holy cities, and the White House to gain an
understanding of this complex partnership.