Dirty Diplomacy: The Rough-and-Tumble Adventures of a Scotch-Drinking, Skirt-Chasing, Dictator-Busting and Thoroughly Unrepentant Ambassador Stuck on the Frontline of the War Against Terror

by Craig Murray

An irreverent former British ambassador in Uzbekistan discusses his witness to regional brutality under the regime of dictator and western ally Islom Karimov, describing the political dogma he encountered from London's Foreign Office and their senior partners in Washington. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Politics, History, International Affairs, Asia

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 16, 2007

About the author

Craig John Murray is a British political activist, former ambassador to Uzbekistan and former Rector of the University of Dundee.

Reviews

[Unwisely · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't even know what book I was looking for when I picked up this one and Blood Makes the Grass Grow Green: A Year in the Desert with Team America, but these were good random finds.

Ignore the hyperbolic (American edition) title, and you'll read rather a lot about running a British embassy in a horribly messed up country (Uzbekistan) in the mid-2000s. But, wow, it was hard to put down. I thought I knew something about central Asia but I am not sure it was very much. I certainly didn't realize what a hellhole Uzbekistan was.

Mr. Murray stands up for human rights in the appalling dictatorship, which the American (Bush Jr) government was at that point pointing too as a shining beacon of hope, because they wanted allies. It, to put it mildly, was not that. (Go read their Wikipedia page, or at least the human rights section. As of 9 May 2016, it is claiming that approximately 4% of its population lives in slavery. 4%! 2016!)

By doing his job (and standing up to the pressure), Murray makes some (small) progress. For his trouble, his own government tries to get him fired (on somewhat questionable grounds). Is he perfect? By no means. I'm sure the book he wrote about himself, he took pains to paint him in the most flattering light, but, even apart from that the book was fascinating. (Samarkand! Law lords! Morality! Decency!)

For someone who knows a lot about the region, none of this will come as a surprise but to someone who's as ignorant as myself, it was pretty great.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

very informative, and a good overall intro into the history and politics of central asia. i know people who have worked with murray, though, and they pretty much unanimously agree that he is a pompous arrogant self righteous womanizing alcoholic. and not in a good way.

[Michael T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you mention Uzbekistan to most educated people today they will know, at very least, that it has a horrible human rights record. That knowledge is due largely to the actions & advocacy of Craig Murray (the author of Dirty Diplomacy), the British ambassador to Uzbekistan between 2002 and 2004. Those dates are significant. The post 9-11 build up to the invasion of Iraq was underway when Ambassador Murray arrived at his new post in Tashkent. Britain had decided to back the Bush administrations plans, and majority Muslim nations willing to support those plans, like Uzbekistan, were key. The autocratic rule of Islam Karimov, whose security forces were known to torture detainees to death, sometimes by submerging them alive in boiling water, were deemed to be highly inconvenient to these plans. But Ambassador Murray would not turn a blind eye. And because, in an attempt to shame & silence him, many details of Murray's less than perfect personal life were used, what we get in his narrative is a "warts & all" portrait of the man, a bit like, on a smaller scale, another Oskar Schindler. Highly recommended.

[Igor Trabuco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diplomacia Suja é um dos livros sobre política mais contundentes que li. Mostra os bastidores da diplomacia britânica, de um ponto de vista privilegiado, já que Murray conta uma história real. Um livro que mostra que os fins, definitivamente, não justificam os meios.

[Calisto · Rating 3 out of 5]

detailed .. with personal details. Craig Murray at his factual best ..

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uzbekistan (touches Afghanistan).
Memoir
2002 - 2004
Anti-hero
He’s openly not a good person, but by golly — he’ll risk his life to fight against human rights violations!

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting in regards to the "war on terror".

[Slincn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why I want to become a diplomat. A British diplomat discovers that all is not as well in Uzbekistan as the Bush administration would have us believe. As partners in the war on terror, the Uzbek government is a valuable ally. But there is a very real danger that ignoring their human rights violations and overall disdain for democracy or civil freedoms will land us with a repeat of the Noriega nightmare.
History can tell us something, as long as we are listening, is the author's argument. And I love Murray's hell be damned attitude and his unexpected commitment to what is right and good.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig Murray is too ballsy for his own good. That's exactly what we need in the world of international relations! This guy is now officially one of my heroes. Smart, fearless and funny, Murray gives an honest assessment of how political cynisism and delusional thinking have threatened to defeat any real progress in the "War on Terrorism". Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. This book is a must read for everyone interested in current geopolitics.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found Murray much too crass, but this is something I was already suspecting from the title. He cites a few books I have read and enjoyed in his bibliography, but that doesn't redeem him enough.

If curious about Uzbekistan, British ambassadorship, and interacting with Muslims, here's a 2006 book on it, but it's not pretty.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books is set in Uzbekistan, apparently a very unpleasant place.

[Seulky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irreverent (I sense a theme in my books this year). But, fascinating. Depressing. Unrelenting.

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat fascinating read from a former British ambassador to Uzbekistan. Best at relating nutty anecdotes of facade of Uzbek attempts at economic reform in order to receive international aid.

[Interzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read. It will be outdated soon though. Recommend for everyone concerned with Foreign Policy. Gives great info inside Islam Karimov's regime.

[Scotus · Rating 5 out of 5]

an excellent example of someone who would not toe the government line - and paid dearly

[Jim Noyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing, eye-opening, and shocking that so very much of this is not well known

[Johnathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muito bom! Tem uma sequência e uma linguagem bem coloquial. Não fugiu do tema principal que foi da vida mais pessoal do profissional. Mas bem interessante.

[Fleming Voetmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting at times, important but minor contribution to the Bush-Blair legacies ; but also a bit too long