Inside The Mirage: America’s Fragile Partnership with Saudi Arabia
By Thomas W. Lippman
Westview Press
$27.5
390 PP.

Review By Khalil Abdel Alim

Riyadh, the capitol of Saudi Arabia is an enhanced reflection of any American city. It’s Aziza Mall contains Wal-Mart type stores, Mcdonald’s, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks and many other American stores found in American malls. But Saudi Arab women shop in groups of two or more wearing black robes and veils...

Thomas Lippman is a veteran reporter who has spent many years in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia which he covered for the Washington Post. In this lively lucid book he writes of the roots and history of the special relationship between the United States and the desert kingdom that extends more than seven decades.

King Abdul Aziz, the founder and ruler of Saudi Arabia granted the concession to explore and develop the rich oil reserves to an American company, Standard of California, SOCAL , over more experienced British companies because the British were colonizers. SOCAL later became Aramco.


The special relationship between the two countries has been mutually beneficial. Oil revenue brought overnight modern development to the backward sand locked kingdom and America acquired exclusive access to one of the world’s richest sources of oil.

Eventually the industry was nationalized and Aramco became Saudi Aramco. The paternal relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia is paradoxical. Usama bin Laden is the scion of a rich Saudi construction family and it is suspected that much of the finances for Al Qaeda come from Saudi. Fifteen of the alleged attackers on America were allegedly Saudis.

The oil wealth is not used to benefit the people but rather has been used by the Royal family for their wealth and comfort. Abdel Aziz died in 1953 and was succeeded by his son Saud who was neither popular nor smart. One official said of him, ”his mental equipment was not very good.” Saud was succeeded by the wiser prince Faisal who, supported by other princes, forced Saud to to disgnate Faisal as prime minister with executive power in 1958. In 1964 Saud abdicated and went into exile and Faisal became king.
Lippman reports that Prince Fiasal promised President John F. Kennedy, in return for his support in the development of Saudi Arabia, that he would bring reforms to the kingdom and outlaw slavery. Islamic Saudi Arabia outlawed slavery in 1962-more than one hundred years after the Christian west.

Lippman also reveals that the American government and corporations built the entire government and infrastructure of Saudi Arabia. However, the Saudis were fast learners and now operate on their own .

Even though they have purchased billions of dollars worth of the most sophisticated modern military hardware, technology and training from the United States, they are still dependent upon America for their military defense as was demonstrated by Desert Storm. Desert Storm caused fissures in the society that are widening today and threaten to topple the monarchy.

Saudi society proclaims the puritanical Wahabi approach to Islam but the royal family exhibits hypocrisy by behind the scenes practice of western vices: alcohol, pornography, and commingling of the sexes.

The large Saudi mainly American educated class loves America and wants to be like Americans. The hostility of Americans after the attacks on America greatly troubled them.

As current events demonstrate, the special relationship between Saudi and America is under great strain.

American Muslims will have their perception of Saudi Arabia, as the “Vatican” of Islam challenged -it is not. Much of the Muslim world sees the Saudi version of Islam as a perversion of the faith.

Lippman gives his prognosis for the future of Saudi Arabia with a concluding quote from the novel “Cities of Salt,”“God only knows. Hope for the best. No one can read the future.”