Thicker than Oil: America's Uneasy Partnership with Saudi Arabia

367 Pages·2006·3.49 MB·English

by  Rachel Bronson

THICKER THAN OIL
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THICKER THAN OIL
America’s Uneasy Partnership
with Saudi Arabia
(cid:1)(cid:2)
R B
ACHEL RONSON
A Council on Foreign Relations Book
1
2006
1
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Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bronson, Rachel.
Thicker than oil / Rachel Bronson.
p. cm. Includes bibliographical references
ISBN-13: 978-0-19-516743-6 (cloth)
ISBN-10: 0-19-516743-0 (cloth)
1. United States—Foreign relations—Saudi Arabia.
2. Saudia Arabia—Foreign relations—United States.
I. Title
E183.8.S25B76 2006
327.73053809′045—dc22
2005024834
Founded in 1921, the Council on Foreign Relations is an independent, national membership
organization and a nonpartisan center for scholars dedicated to producing and disseminating
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and interested citizens in the United States and other countries, can better understand the
world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other governments. The
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publishingForeign Affairs, the preeminent journal covering international affairs and U.S.
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the council takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation
with the u.s. government. all statements of fact and expressions of opinion
contained in its publications are the sole responsibility of the author or authors.
2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
For John.
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Prologue 1
1 Oil, God, and Real Estate 14
2 Dropping Anchors in the Middle East 36
3 An Islamic Pope 61
4 Shifting Sands 78
5 Double, Double, Oil and Trouble 106
6 “A New and Glorious Chapter” 124
7 Mobilizing Religion 140
8 Begin or Reagan 152
9 “We Support Some, They Support Some” 168
10 The Cold War Ends with a Bang 191
11 Parting Ways 204
12 September 11 and Beyond 232
13 Reconfiguring the U.S.-Saudi Strategic Partnership 248
Notes 263
Selected Bibliography 311
Index 333
vii
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Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the help and sup-
port of many people. Les Gelb, the president of the Council on
Foreign Relations when this project first took shape, ensured that
I had the time and support necessary to pursue its research. I am grate-
ful to Richard Haass, his successor, for continuing with the investment.
The Carnegie Corporation of New York provided generous financial
support, and Patricia Rosenfield, the chair of the Carnegie Scholars
program, offered ongoing encouragement. Ellen Laipson directed my
Council study group on U.S.-Saudi relations and helped bring together
academics, policy analysts, and retired and active government officials
who generously commented on draft chapters and contributed their own
firsthand observations.
Colleagues at the Council selflessly contributed their own precious
time, including weekends and vacations. I am particularly indebted to
Isobel Coleman, Steven Cook, and Jim Lindsay for their thoughtful
critiques. Irina Faskianos organized Council study sessions in Atlanta,
Dallas, and Houston that provided useful contacts for developing the
oil portion of this story. Rachel Abramson and Meredith Angelson pro-
vided tremendous research support. Both plowed through stacks of
documents—often looking for (and somehow finding) what amounted
to a needle in a haystack. In their efforts, they were ably aided by Kareem
Idriss and Sarah Saghir. Leigh Gusts and her magnificent team at
the Council’s library did yeoman’s work to make obscure reference
materials magically appear and to fulfill my wide-ranging informa-
tion requests.
I also must thank Fouad Ajami, Mike Ameen, Michelle Billig,
Chris Blanchard, Ray Close, Helima Croft, Hermann Eilts, Greg Gause,
ix
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x ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Patrick Heffernan, Larry Korb, David Kirsch, Richard Murphy, Mary
Anne Weaver, and Frank Wisner for their encouragement and for
making themselves available to a curious researcher. Two anonymous
readers for the Council on Foreign Relations supplied extremely valu-
able comments. It is my hope that the book’s endnotes offer a glimpse
into the scores of others who made valuable contributions.
Wielding a ruthless pen, Tim Bartlett at Oxford slogged through
successive drafts of this manuscript, demanding clarity while somehow
remaining compassionate and encouraging. To my considerable relief,
Peter Ginna seamlessly picked up this project and steered it through
to completion after Tim left Oxford for Random House. Kate Hamill,
Helen Mules, and Sue Warga made important suggestions from be-
hind the scenes. My agent, Heather Schroder, joined this book half-
way through its completion and has, since then, provided invaluable
guidance.
One of the greatest pleasures in writing this book has been discover-
ing America’s presidential libraries. They are true national treasures, equal
only to the people who staff them. David Knapp at the Energy Intelli-
gence Group, Nicholas Scheetz of Special Collections at the Georgetown
University Library, and Rima Hassan at the Saudi Embassy’s photo
archives also guided me to important documents and photos.
Many people in Saudi Arabia opened their homes and engaged
in lengthy conversations about contemporary Saudi politics and the
U.S.-Saudi relationship. They graciously accommodated an American
scholar who overscheduled interviews rather than bask in the warm graces
of their Arab hospitality. To them, often left nameless at their request,
I extend my heartfelt gratitude.
I benefited from the insights provided by audiences and workshop
participants at venues where portions of the book were presented,
including the Rochester chapter of the American Council on Foreign
Relations, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the
Columbia University Seminar Series, the Cosmopolitan Club of New
York, the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern
World, Network 20/20, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy,
and the Women’s Foreign Policy Group.
There is no way that this one book can fully reflect the vast knowl-
edge and experience of all who have contributed to it. I can only hope
that it comes close. Any misreading of events or factual errors are, of
course, solely my responsibility.
I reserve my greatest appreciation for my family, who has surrounded
me with love and devotion. They suffered quietly as I left family gather-
ings to work on book chapters and as I interjected observations about