(Download) "Dance of Swords" by Bruce Richard Nardulli " Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Dance of Swords
- Author : Bruce Richard Nardulli
- Release Date : January 19, 2013
- Genre: Politics & Current Events,Books,History,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 63163 KB
Description
The United States and Saudi Arabia have a long and complex history of security relations. These relations evolved under conditions in which both countries understood and valued the need for cooperation, but also were aware of its limits and the dangers of too close a partnership. U.S. security dealings with Saudi Arabia are an extreme, perhaps unique, case of how security ties unfolded under conditions in which sensitivities to those ties were always a central —oftentimes dominating—consideration. This was especially true in the most delicate area of military assistance. Distinct patterns of behavior by the two countries emerged as a result, patterns that continue to this day. This dissertation examines the first twenty years of the U.S.-Saudi military assistance relationship. It seeks to identify the principal factors responsible for how and why the military assistance process evolved as it did, focusing on the objectives and constraints of both U.S. and Saudi participants.Drawing heavily on U.S. primary source materials, the research traces the history of military assistance from 1942-1964. These years are explored using six time periods. The first is from 1942 to 1945, tracing early political relations, security developments, and the initiation of military activities and assistance by the U.S. during the war years. The years 1945 to mid-1950 examine the transition from world war to cold war, and the first serious long-term plans and actions between the two countries on military assistance. The period from mid-1950 through 1953 focuses on efforts to formalize U.S.-Saudi military assistance via written agreements, and to establish a regular militaryadvisory group inside the Kingdom. The years 1954-1956 are investigated against the backdrop of what was a key phase of Arab nationalism and British decline in the region, all while the U.S. continued to seek containment of Soviet influence with Saudi assistance. The period 1957-1960 focuses on the effects of key developments inside Saudi Arabia on the military assistance process; the Saudi internal power struggle between King Saud and Crown Prince Faisal. Last are the years 1961 through 1964, characterized as an era of Arab polarization and direct security threats to the Kingdom, most notably the war in the Yemen. That war brought into sharp relief the many tensions inherent in the military assistance relationship. It also was the period of greatest internal conflict between Saud and Faisal, culminating in King Saud’s removal from the throne. The work concludes with a summary of the principal findings and patterns of behavior observed over the entire period. It also addresses the historically important question (and enduring policy issue) of how to evaluate the effectiveness of the overall military assistance undertaking with Saudi Arabia.The Sword Dance or ‘Ardha’ is the national dance of Saudi Arabia. It is used here as a metaphor for the intricate moves required by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia in their military dealings, and to denote the distinct patterns of behavior that emerged.