Arabian Knight: Colonel Bill Eddy USMC and the Rise of American Power in the Middle East

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.