Examining his roles as warrior, scholar, spy master, and diplomat, this chronicle of Colonel Bill Eddy's life details the origin and early development of the U.S.-Saudi diplomatic relationship and its implications on present-day Middle East policy. From his birth in the Presbyterian missionary community in Lebanon to his service in intelligence operations in World Wars I and II to his involvement in academia and his close friendship with Abdul Aziz ibn Saud--the founding king of Saudi Arabia--this narrative traces the unheralded Marine Corps officer's intimate ties with the Arab world and his unending dedication to promoting good relations between America and the Middle East.
Reviews
"Mr. Lippman has a nose for the political nuances of the region and a good eye for detail. Noting that Saudis play chess without the bishop or the queen--for which they substitute an elephant and a vizier--he comments wryly: 'No Christians or women were going to be checkmating any king in Abdel Aziz's Saudi Arabia.'"" --The Economist"
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