Diplomacy First Again

How much do you really know about Saudi Arabia’s complex relationship with the United States? Do you fully understand why Russia invaded Ukraine? Diplomacy First Again is a collection of essays that will help you get to the bottom of these and many other complex issues in international politics today. If you remain open minded, this book will make it easier to organize your thoughts and form your own conclusions. Diplomacy First Again is written by David H. Rundell and Michael Gfoeller, two distinguished former diplomats with over fifty years of political analysis experience in Washington, the Middle East, and the former Soviet Union.  Rooted in realism, it challenges conventional narratives and calls for a foreign policy prioritizing American interests in an increasingly multipolar world. The authors point out that a small nation like Ukraine is unlikely to defeat a large nation like Russia without foreign intervention on a scale that risks provoking a major war. They discuss the dramatic social and economic changes taking place in Saudi Arabia and explain why the Kingdom’s stability remains important to the United States. Turning to domestic issues, they provide insightful commentary on State Department reform, school shootings, nationwide court injunctions, and a host of other topics. Their easily digestible essays are short, clear, and witty. They are full of insights and opinions often overlooked by the discredited legacy media. Many of their predictions have already proven accurate and are well worth exploring by anyone seeking a deeper understanding of current events.

David Rundell spent over half of his Foreign Service career in Saudi Arabia and retired as Chief of Mission in Riyadh. Recognized as one of America’s foremost authorities on Saudi Arabia, he is the author of Vision or Mirage, Saudi Arabia at the Crossroads and frequently serves as an expert witness in cases involving Saudi Arabia. He has been engaged in oil exploration in West Texas for over thirty years and combines a knowledge of Saudi Arabia with a technical background in oil production and energy markets. Following his retirement from the State Department, he consulted for Monitor Deloitte before becoming a partner at Arabia Analytica.

Ambassador Michael Gfoeller served as Senior Political Advisor to the U.S. Central Command, where he played a major role in shaping American Middle East and Central Asia strategies. He served numerous tours in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. A member of the Council on Foreign Relations, he is one of the very few Foreign Service officers fluent in both Arabic and Russian. Following his retirement from the State Department, he advised ExxonMobil, consulted for Henry Kissinger, lectured at Georgetown University, and was a partner in Arabia Analytica.