The story? Well, let me just say, as I listened I was amazed.
The topic was Relationships - Saudi Arabia and the United States - the commentator was tracing from present day back to the interest the US has in the country. He listed off presidents from Bush to Clinton to Bush blah blah back and back. I almost turned the radio off but am so glad I didn't.
It seems that FDR, yes FDR, that is how far back the relationship traces... was flying over the country and looked out and thought.... Hmmm, looks like this is a country that could become a big agricultural hub, we should connect with them.
Now I don't know about you but my mind does not, repeat NOT work that way when I am flying and look down. What kind of an amazing mind, a creative mind, an entrepreneurial mind is that that God created!
- So FDR then went home and set to work looking for a way to meet with Saudi King Abd al-Aziz Ibn Saud, warrior king of his country.
After a lot of amazing negotiations FDR managed to get the king to meet him on a large destroyer, the U.S.S. Quincy in the Great Bitter Lake, Egypt.
The king, being a king, had certain things he wanted to bring with him.... for instance; a few of his special wives and 100 of his finest sheep. Now don't roll your eyes, this was his culture, his life and this is what warrior kings did/do. Don't expect that he should just be happy that the President of the United States wants to see him and on a big ship no less.
The two met and FDR noticed something.
You see he was looking for a way to connect with the king and he didn't know what or how he could figure that out. Until he saw the warrior king.... who was in his 70's and had difficulty walking... FDR seized the moment and presented the king with his back-up wheelchair. The result? The beginning of a friendship. FDR recognizing the need to respect the Saudi culture and knowing that smoking was taboo chose to smoke in the recesses of the ship, so as not to offend the king. i.e. respecting his culture.
And that's the story of how the United States of America and Saudi Arabia first became friends. The rest is let's just say an "oily history".
