Jordan Robert W - Desert diplomat : inside Saudi Arabia following 9/11

Ambassadors are the Swiss Army knives of Americas diplomatic ranks. They are multitoolspart 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 presidents 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. Americas 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 presidents inner circle, Jordan and his wife socialized with George and Laura Bush, and he played a key role in Bushs 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 criticalparticularly in using the countrys 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 presidents 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