Charleston County Public Library

King's counsel, a memoir of war, espionage, and diplomacy in the Middle East, Jack O'Connell with Vernon Loeb

eng

autobiography

illustrations

index present

non fiction

King's counsel

668194846

Jack O'Connell with Vernon Loeb

a memoir of war, espionage, and diplomacy in the Middle East

Jack O'Connell possessed an uncanny ability to be at the center of things. On his arrival in Jordan in 1958, he unraveled a coup aimed at the young King Hussein, who would become America's most reliable Middle East ally. Over time, their bond of trust and friendship deepened. In 1967, O'Connell tipped off Hussein that Israel would invade Egypt the next morning. Later, as Hussein's Washington counselor, O'Connell learned of Henry Kissinger's surprising role in the Yom Kippur War. The book's leitmotif is betrayal. Hussein, the Middle East's only bona-fide peacemaker, wanted simply the return of the West Bank, seized in the Six-Day War. Despite American promises, the clear directive of UN Resolution 242, and the years of secret negotiations with Israel, that never happened. Hussein's dying wish was that O'Connell tell the unknown story in this book.--From publisher description

Summer in Amman, 1958 -- A shotgun in the closet -- Calm before the storm -- The prelude to war -- The six day war -- Making things up as we went along -- "Can I trust this little king of yours?" -- Jousting with the Soviets, talking to the Israelis -- September 1970 -- Back to Washington, back to war -- From Washington to Camp David -- Giving up the West Bank -- Saddam Hussein : friend or foe? -- A war that need not have been waged -- Cold peace -- Missed opportunities, miscalculations, and mistakes -- "A place beyond ourselves" -- Most of our enemies, we made -- Many drums to pound -- Irrepressible optimism