Almost a Spy

Charles Petty

Author House, Jan 12, 2012 - Biography & Autobiography - 644 pages

The author introduces you to a myriad of characters, expatriate embassy personnel, Royals, spies, and party-goers. From mansions of the oil-rich to surprise haram (forbidden) gambling junkets with members of the Royal family to being charged in absentia and imprisoned and tortured for espionage, Chuck held on to tell us his story. You will be introduced to this flamboyant host and his hostess and their worldwide travels. They have journeyed through African Safaris and exploited the waters of the Nile, have been special guests of the King of Thailand, and held meetings with one of Chucks counterparts in Moscow. Cross over to the other side of his cover jobs as he exposes the intrigue of the Jeddah Conference where kings, princes, and ministers begged Kuwait to arbitrate with Saddam Hussein to save their country. Learn how Kuwaits ruling family not only spurned efforts to hold off invasion but failed to even make preparations to protect their population from impending death and destruction. For many years the Kuwaitis had been stealing Iraqi oil, and Saddam was there for payback. Purse strings and the toss of a coin decided which side the Americans would be on and where the line would be drawn in the sand. Follow Chuck on Ali Baba runs and night crawling, behind enemy lines and closed doors of Ministries, palaces, and mosque offices, while searching for monetary trails destined for terrorist links. During his on and off relationship with Kuwait, Chuck moved his efforts over to the Horn of Africa, to the stifling hot dusty streets of Mogadishu, Somalia, where the United Nations was trying to set up a legitimate government. With six to seven Marine Corp shooters for constant protection, he conducted business from the seaport and airport via the K-4 sniper alley to the United Nations compound on the grounds of the former American Embassy. In Somalia his daily duties included personal negotiations with the two opposing War Lords, Mohammed Farah Aideed and Moha

Contents

• Get the News Bearer: 1
• Going on the Offense: 12
• Prisoner Swap: 22
• Bail Denied: 30
• A NightTime for Secrecy: 42
• A Message from Saddam HusseinEmergency Jeddah Conference: 52
• Clouds of War: 71
• Like Sitting Ducks: 94
• The Iraqis Are Here: 117
• Like Nero Watching Rome Burn: 138
• All Communications Are Cut: 151
• A Line in the Desert Is Drawn: 168
• Scorched Earth: 182
• Valley of Death: 199
• From the Rubble: 212
• Mines Bombs and Royal Ordinance: 225
• Ali Baba Runs: 234
• Munitions for a Princess: 249
• Repairing Life and Lakes of Fire: 267
• Force Feeding Somalia: 281
• Cozying Up to Some War Lords: 309
• Sleeping With the Lions: 326
• Staged for a Kidnapping: 341
• Secret Passages: 362
• Cover Job for a Double Life: 381
• Dedication of the New American Embassy: 396
• Marine Corp Ball: 417
• Moon and Rain over the Euphrates: 430
• Terrorist Funding in America: 443
• Ive Stayed Too Long: 463
• Behind Enemy Lines Again and Again: 479
• Germ Warfare and Propaganda: 491
• Kill the Americans: 502
• Kicking Ass and Taking Names: 521
• A Royal Confrontation: 538
• Walking With a Zealot: 555
• Night Crawling: 574
• A Bomb for Halloween: 585
• Prison Indignations: 593
• I am Beaten: 610

Bibliographic information

• Title: Almost a Spy
• Author: Charles Petty
• Publisher: Author House, 2012
• ISBN: 1468523341, 9781468523348
• Length: 644 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Political