On the bookshelf this month is Anthony Cordesman's latest contribution to our understanding of Saudi Arabia's defense and security challenges, in the form of "Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region." Dr. Cordesman, the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has written over 60 books including a four volume series on the lessons of modern war. At CSIS, Cordesman has been director of the Gulf Net Assessment Project, the Gulf in Transition study, and principle investigator of the Homeland Defense Project. He directed the Middle East Net Assessment Project, acted as codirector of the Strategic Energy Initiative, and directed the project on Saudi Arabia in the 21st century.

Readers here have benefited from the numerous articles, interviews and reports that he has shared through SUSRIS and we look forward to reading his latest offering. Today for your consideration we provide the CSIS release about the new book and provide links to the many SUSRIS articles contributed by Dr. Cordesman.

Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region
Anthony H. Cordesman

Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region provides a comprehensive, up-to-date analysis of Saudi Arabia's strategic security efforts, both within the country and as a stabilizing regional presence. In this meticulously researched book, acclaimed geopolitical scholar Anthony Cordesman, well-known for his role as ABC News's national security analyst, takes readers inside the Saudi security structure for an unprecedented look at its internal and external forces, policymaking, and careful balancing of regional and East/West relationships.

In Saudi Arabia, Anthony Cordesman shows how the Kingdom is responding to an unstable Iraq, a potentially nuclear Iran, the needs of its fellow Southern Gulf states, and the ongoing threat of terrorism inside its borders. Cordesman also considers a number of socioeconomic and demographic factors that could bring dramatic changes within the Kingdom in the near future. Nonpartisan, unbiased, and based on the author's unparalleled access to high-profile Saudi officials, the book offers a level of expertise and insight no other consideration of the subject can match.

Source: CSIS

Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman holds the Arleigh Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and is Co-Director of the Center's Middle East Program. He is also a military analyst for ABC and a Professor of National Security Studies at Georgetown. He directs the assessment of global military balance, strategic energy developments, and CSIS' Dynamic Net Assessment of the Middle East. He is the author of books on the military lessons of the Iran-Iraq war as well as the Arab-Israeli military balance and the peace process, a six-volume net assessment of the Gulf, transnational threats, and military developments in Iran and Iraq. He analyzes U.S. strategy and force plans, counter-proliferation issues, arms transfers, Middle Eastern security, economic, and energy issues. [Click here for more]

Related Material:

• Book Info: "Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region" - Anthony H. Cordesman - Amazon.com

• Gulf Threats, Risks and Vulnerabilities: Terrorism and Assymetric Warfare - Anthony H. Cordesman and Adam C. Seitz - SUSRIS IOI - Aug 31, 2009

• President Bush's Trip to the Middle East - Briefing by Anthony Cordesman and Jon Alterman of CSIS - SUSRIS IOI - May 14, 2008

• Security Challenges and Threats in the Gulf: A Net Assessment - Anthony Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Mar 25, 2008

• The Gulf Arms Sales: A Background Paper - Anthony H. Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Feb 5, 2008

• Revisiting Arab-US Strategic Relations: Security Cooperation in the Middle East - Anthony Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Nov 27, 2007

• Saudi Military Modernization - A Conversation with Anthony Cordesman - Interview - Nov 23, 2007

• Weapons of Mass Preservation - Anthony H. Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Aug 20, 2007

• Iran, Oil, and the Strait of Hormuz - Anthony H. Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Mar 27, 2007

• Global Energy Security - Anthony H. Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Nov 15, 2006

• The Impact on Saudi Regional Stability - Anthony H. Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Aug 2, 2005

• Saudi Arabia and the Struggle Against Terrorism by Dr. Anthony Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Apr 11, 2005

• Why Reforge the U.S. and Saudi Relationship? An Interview with Anthony Cordesman - SUSRIS IOI - Sep 28, 2004

• "The Prospects for Stability in 2004 -- The Issue of Political, Economic and Social Reform," by Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi US Relations Information Service Item of Interest, Feb. 23, 2004

• The 9/11 Commission Report: Strengths and Weaknesses," by Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi US Relations Information Service Item of Interest, Jul. 29, 2004

• Developments in Iraq at the End of 2003: Adapting U.S. Policy to Stay the Course," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, January 7, 2004

• "Four Wars and Counting: Rethinking the Strategic Meaning of the Iraq War," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, December 5, 2003

• "Iraq: Too Uncertain to Call," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, November 18, 2003

• "Saudi Redeployment of the F-15 to Tabuk," by Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi-US Relations Information Service Item of Interest, November 1, 2003

• "Iranian Security Threats and US Policy: Finding the Proper Response," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, October 28, 2003

• "What is Next in Iraq? Military Developments, Military Requirements and Armed Nation Building," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, August 22, 2003

• "Saudi Government Counterterrorism - Counter Extremism Actions," by Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi-US Relations Information Service Item of Interest, August 4, 2003

• "Saudi Arabia: Don't Let Bin Laden Win!", by Anthony H. Cordesman, Saudi-American Forum Item of Interest, May 16, 2003

• "Postwar Iraq: The New Old Middle East," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, April 16, 2003

• "Iraq's Warfighting Strategy," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, March 11, 2003

• "Reforming the Middle East: President Bush's Neo-Con Logic Versus Regional Reality," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, February 27, 2003

• "The Great Iraq Missile Mystery," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, February 26, 2003

• "Iraq Security Roundtable at CSFS: A Discussion With Dr. Anthony Cordesman," Center for Strategic and Future Studies, GulfWire Perspectives, January 28, 2003

• "A Coalition of the Unwilling: Arms Control as an Extension of War By Other Means," By Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, January 25, 2003

• "Iraq's Warfighting Strategy," by Anthony Cordesman - GulfWire Perspectives - March 11, 2003

• Is Iraq In Material Breach? What Hans Blix, Colin Powell, And Jack Straw Actually Said," By Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, December 20, 2002"Saudi Arabia: Opposition, Islamic Extremism And Terrorism," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, December 1, 2002

• "Planning For A Self-Inflicted Wound: U.S. Policy To Reshape A Post-Saddam Iraq," by Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, November 24, 2002

• "The West And The Arab World - Partnership Or A 'Clash Of Civilizations?'" By Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, November 12, 2002

• "Strategy In The Middle East: The Gap Between Strategic Theory And Operational Reality," by Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, October 22, 2002

• "A Firsthand Look At Saudi Arabia Since 9-11," GulfWire's Interview With Dr. Anthony Cordesman In Saudi Arabia, GulfWire Perspectives October 10, 2002

• "Escalating To Nowhere: The Israeli And Palestinian Strategic Failure," By Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, April 8, 2002

• "Reforging The U.S. And Saudi Strategic Partnership," by Dr. Anthony H. Cordesman, GulfWire Perspectives, January 28, 2002