Arab Storm: Politics and Diplomacy Behind the Gulf War

As Iraqi troops swarmed Kuwait in 1991, Alan Munro played a vital role in putting and holding together the most unusual coalition in history to evict them. Never before had Western and Arab states fought side by side against another Arab country. As Britain’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Munro directed events in the eye of the storm. He sets down here what life behind the scenes was like. The frantic phone calls between Security Council members, the confusion of the battlefield, the circus of the international media are all relayed with verve and candour. Munro describes with insight and sensitivity the cultural jarring experienced by the religiously conservative society of Saudi Arabia as their country became host to half a million Western infidels. He embeds his revelations in a thoughtful and informed analysis of the international politics of the Middle East. With Western armies once more engaged on the sands of the Gulf, this new updated edition of Munro’s book provides a timely reminder of the pressures, pitfalls and potential of international diplomacy in the region.