Desert diplomat : inside Saudi Arabia following 9/11

223 Pages·2015·2.77 MB·English

by  Jordan

“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 [the
Saudis] 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
“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
Desert Diplomat
Desert Diplomat
Inside Saudi Arabia Following 9/11
Robert W. Jordan with Steve Fiffer
Foreword by James A. Baker III
Potomac Books
An imprint of the University of Nebraska Press
© 2015 by Robert W. Jordan Foreword © 2015 by James A. Baker III Unless otherwise noted, all
photographs included in this volume are courtesy of the author.
Cover image is from the interior.
Author photo courtesy of Baker Botts LLP.
All rights reserved. Potomac Books is an imprint of the University of Nebraska Press.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jordan, Robert W., 1945– Desert diplomat: inside
Saudi Arabia following 9/11 / Robert W. Jordan with Steve Fiffer; foreword by James A. Baker III.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-61234-670-0 (cloth: alk. paper) ISBN 978-1-61234-740-0 (epub) ISBN 978-1-61234-741-7
(mobi) ISBN 978-1-61234-671-7 (pdf) 1. Jordan, Robert W., 1945– 2. Ambassadors—United States—
Biography. 3. United States—Foreign relations—Saudi Arabia. 4. Saudi Arabia—Foreign relations—
United States. 5. United States—Foreign relations—2001–2009. 6. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001—
Influence. 7. Iraq War, 2003–2011—Diplomatic history. I. Fiffer, Steve. II. Title.
E901.1.J67A3 2015
327.2092—dc23
[B]
2015002747
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-
party websites or their content.
For Kathy and our family, and for the brave men and women who serve in
America’s embassies and consulates abroad
Contents
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Acknowledgments
Author’s Note
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Notes
Illustrations
1. The author and President George W. Bush
2. The author and First Lady Laura Bush
3. A relaxed lunch with the Bushes
4. The author and James A. Baker III
5. The author and Secretary of State Colin Powell
6. Meeting with President Bush
7. The author and Vice President Dick Cheney
8. The Friday Group
9. With Prince Alwaleed at the Saks Fifth Avenue grand opening
10. The author and Prince Alwaleed
11. In the Hejaz desert
12. Railcar blown up by Lawrence of Arabia
13. Riding camels in the desert
14. The ancient walls of Riyadh
15. The author and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
16. A discussion with Secretary Rumsfeld and Torie Clarke
17. A meeting at the Saudi Royal Palace
18. Meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah and Prince Sultan
19. The aftermath of a terrorist bombing in Riyadh
20. The destruction centered around the pool area of Al Hamra
21. Terrorists’ car after the attack on the Al Hamra compound
Foreword
Ambassadors are the Swiss Army knives of America’s diplomatic ranks. They
are multitools—part diplomat, part analyst, and part politician. And, yes, from
time to time, they are part spy. They must display the skills and characteristics
required to confront challenging tasks, often during trying times. They must
have voracious appetites for information yet be discrete when sharing it. They
must be as equally charming as they are tough. Above all, they must be smart.
An ambassador, as the U.S. Diplomacy Center defines it, is the president’s
highest-ranking representative to a specific nation or international organization
abroad. They must act accordingly.
The day following the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington,
President George W. Bush selected exactly the right man when he formally
nominated Robert W. Jordan to became the U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
Jordan had already gone through a background check. But by September 12, a
lot more was riding on the appointment. America’s relationship with Saudi
Arabia would face inevitable strains amid backlash at the Islamic extremists
responsible for the terrible bombings that shook the world. Osama bin Laden,
after all, was a member of the House of Saud. Having a cool hand in Riyadh
would be critical if the United States were to maintain Saudi Arabia as a close
ally in this important part of the world. As events in the Middle East unfolded
during the two years Jordan was stationed there, that bilateral relationship would
be tested time and time again.
Although Jordan had no prior foreign service experience, he had many of the
qualities needed to be a model ambassador to the Kingdom. He was intelligent,
savvy, and street smart. He was a good negotiator. But above all, he had strong
professional and personal ties with the president. An accomplished trial lawyer
from Dallas, Jordan had represented Bush when he was a Texas businessman.
Although not a part of the president’s inner circle, Jordan and his wife socialized
with George and Laura Bush, and he played a key role in Bush’s victory over
Ann Richards to become governor of Texas. Jordan was his own man with his
own code. The president knew that he would always get the skinny from Jordan,
and not merely the bureaucratic buttering up that sometimes comes with being
the leader of the free world. As the president told Jordan three months after the
attacks, the new ambassador would be his “point man” in Saudi Arabia.
In his memoir Jordan has done a stellar job of telling the compelling story
about much of the diplomatic activity that swept the Middle East after 9/11.
Saudi Arabia, of course, played a key role. In order for the United States to
successfully invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein, assistance from neighboring
Saudi Arabia was critical—particularly in using the country’s assets, such as
military bases, border crossings, intelligence, and logistics. But more was at
stake. It was also critical that Saudi Arabia be viewed by others in the region as
supporting the invasion of another Islamic country. This was a pivotal two years
for both countries.
Jordan writes with unflinching acuity, providing keen insight into the Arab
world as well as the inner workings of American diplomacy during his time as
ambassador. He tells about the first meeting between President Bush and Saudi
crown prince Abdullah during the Crawford Summit at the president’s Central
Texas ranch in April 2002 in the lead-up to the second Gulf War. He tells about
the 2003 terrorist bombings at three compounds in Riyadh that left 39 people
dead and more than 160 wounded. And he tells of his personal role in helping
save the life of Michael Baba Yemba, a Christian pastor from South Sudan who
was being persecuted for his faith before Jordan assisted his immigration to
Dallas, Texas.
Simply put, Desert Diplomat is an intriguing tale of an interesting man
serving his country during an important time in history.
James A. Baker III
Sixty-First U.S. Secretary of State