Inside The Mirage: America's Fragile Partnership With Saudi Arabia

by Thomas W. Lippman

The relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia has always been a marriage of convenience, not affection. In a bargain cemented by President Roosevelt and Saudi Arabia's founding king in 1945, Americans gained access to Saudi oil, and the Saudis sent the dollars back with purchases of American planes, American weapons, American construction projects and American know-how that brought them modernization, education and security. The marriage has suited both sides. But how long can it last? In Inside the Mirage , veteran Middle East journalist Thomas W. Lippman shows that behind the official proclamations of friendship and alliance lies a complex relationship that has often been strained by the mutual aversion of two very different societies. Today the U.S.-Saudi partnership faces its greatest challenge as younger Saudis less enamored of America rise to prominence and Americans, scorched by Saudi-based terrorism, question the value of their ties to the desert kingdom. With so much at stake for the entire, ever-volatile Middle East, this compelling and absolutely necessary account brings the light of new research onto the relationship between these two countries and the future of their partnership.

Genres: History, Middle East

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

THOMAS W. LIPPMAN, a former Middle East bureau chief for the Washington Post, is an award-winning journalist who has written about Middle Eastern affairs and American foreign policy for more than three decades. He is a former adjunct senior fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations and an adjunct scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The author of five other books on the Middle East and diplomacy, Lippman has appeared frequently on national television, news, and radio. He lives in Washington, DC.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of the development of the oil industry and, by extension, the modern economy of Saudi Arabia. Great stories about the Aramco pioneers & a very complimentary mention (justifiably) of Dr. Sally Al-Turki, founder of the Dhahran Al-Aliyya Academy.

[Xaad Saud · Rating 5 out of 5]

One very intriguing and interesting account of the historical rhetoric between saudi arabia and the US. The book captures this history since the early 1930s and looks at it from an almost entirely non-biased angel. It was a super fun, interesting read.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though dated (published in 2004), this was a particularly poignant piece, especially given the current climate after the Khashoggi murder.

[The Contented · Rating 2 out of 5]

This COULD have been a very worthwhile economic history detailing the US-Saudi partnership. Sadly it just couldn’t stop itself from lapsing into a lot of tired orientalism. Rather than just a straightforward economic history, it was infidel this and infidel that. What the actual f—-.

Sigh. At one point I wanted to give it a score of minus five.

Also, it was so long - and prone to dulllness.

And some of it was just factually incorrect. I should read Leopold Weiss’ ‘The Road to Mecca’ next - in order to get a different view

[Marius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saudi-Arabia er et interessant land, og har trofast fulgt amerikanske råd fra olje ble funnet i det som i boka fremkommer som ødemark befolket av middelalderfolk. Tidlig lovprises amerikanernes innsats og det nære forholdet, og selv om boka ble gitt ut i 2003 er den lite kritisk til den amerikansk-inspirerte utviklingen i landet. Ansvaret for 11. september og Bin Ladens ekstremisme tillegges i boka i hovedsak mangelen på ryggmarg blant moderate og reformvennlige saudiere og kan tolkes som uungåelig på grunn av enkelte sneversynte saudiers iboende fremmedfrykt. Boka kunne gjerne vært mer forsiktig på det økonomiske feltet, det nevnes ikke at amerikanerne klarte å stable på bena en økonomi som ikke tålte motgang, som under 90-tallet. Under glansdagene nevnes det at Saudiene fikk inn mer penger enn de kunne bruke, allerede her luktet det mangel på drøfting. Fakta i boka bærer preg av å være mer opprams av andres arbeid enn dybdeundersøkelser, til tross for at forfatteren har et nært forhold til landet. Utviklingen og tankesettet i landet er presentert amerikanske "expats" og denne tilnærmingen gjorde det enklere å bygge seg en egen oppfatning av tings tilstand. Alt i alt en lærerik bok, selv om jeg tar ting med en stor klype salt.

[Bob Peru · Rating 4 out of 5]

for some weird reason, i'd really like to go to arabia. maybe it's cuz i really dig the desert and they got a lot o' desert there for sure.

but i'd like to disguise myself as a hajji and go to mecca like sir richard "dirty dick" burton. that'd be so freakin' boss.

very interesting book, this.

[John Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two thumbs up!