House of Bush House of Saud The Secret Relationship Between the Worlds Two Most Powerful Dynasties

Newsbreaking and controversial — an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers the thirty-year relationship between the Bush family and the House of Saud and explains its impact on American foreign policy, business, and national security.

House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence?

The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher — direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud-Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive — including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake.

Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?

"[P]otentially explosive....[W]hether one buys Unger's arguments or not, there's little doubt that with this intensely researched, well-written book he has poured more flame onto the political fires of 2004." Publishers Weekly

"Unger tells a story well and has a flair for describing the affinities...between rich Saudis and rich Americans." Washington Post

"As chilling as it is gripping...impossible to stop reading." Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Revealing...Mandatory reading for every member of any 9/11 investigation panel — even the one appointed by the president...Intensely researched and well-documented...illuminating, disturbing." Fort Worth Star Telegram

"Americans who want to understand an important aspect of what has gone wrong with the Bush 'War on Terrorism' must read Craig Unger's stunning investigative story." Joe Conason, Salon.com columnist and author of Big Lies

Newsbreaking and controversial -- an award-winning investigative journalist uncovers the thirty-year relationship between the Bush family and the House of Saud and explains its impact on American foreign policy, business, and national security.

House of Bush, House of Saud begins with a politically explosive question: How is it that two days after 9/11, when U.S. air traffic was tightly restricted, 140 Saudis, many immediate kin to Osama Bin Laden, were permitted to leave the country without being questioned by U.S. intelligence?

The answer lies in a hidden relationship that began in the 1970s, when the oil-rich House of Saud began courting American politicians in a bid for military protection, influence, and investment opportunity. With the Bush family, the Saudis hit a gusher -- direct access to presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush. To trace the amazing weave of Saud- Bush connections, Unger interviewed three former directors of the CIA, top Saudi and Israeli intelligence officials, and more than one hundred other sources. His access to major players is unparalleled and often exclusive -- including executives at the Carlyle Group, the giant investment firm where the House of Bush and the House of Saud each has a major stake.

Like Bob Woodward's The Veil, Unger's House of Bush, House of Saud features unprecedented reportage; like Michael Moore's Dude, Where's My Country? Unger's book offers a political counter-narrative to official explanations; this deeply sourced account has already been cited by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles Schumer, and sets 9/11, the two Gulf Wars, and the ongoing Middle East crisis in a new context: What really happened when America's most powerful political family became seduced by its Saudi counterparts?

andlt;Bandgt;Craig Ungerandnbsp;andlt;/Bandgt;is the author of theandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;New York Timesandlt;/iandgt;andnbsp;bestsellingandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;House of Bush, House of Saudandlt;/iandgt;. He appears frequently as an analyst on CNN, the ABC Radio Network, and other broadcast outlets. The former deputy editor of andlt;i andgt;Theandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;New York Observerandlt;/iandgt;andnbsp;and editor-in-chief ofandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;Boston Magazineandlt;/iandgt;, he has written about George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush for andlt;i andgt;Theandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;New Yorkerandlt;/iandgt;,andnbsp;andlt;iandgt;Esquireandlt;/iandgt;, andandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;Vanity Fair.andlt;/iandgt;andnbsp;He lives in New York City.andnbsp;