Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? – Kingdom of Bahrain
Preamble: Just sixteen days after returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (link), and four years before my memorable 10-hours in Amman (link), and five years before that 1-day in Abu Dhabi (link), we were back to KSA -- by way of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
As I introduced in my earlier Blogs, this series of Blog posts recount, in detail and as an American, very real yet different experiences I lived through in various Middle Eastern countries that speak directly to what many claim to be either a very provocative myth or fact: Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? From watercooler claims to media reports, hyperbole or fake news, I will substantiate what I say by offering photo evidence or documentation, and may the chips fall where they may…
The Saudis aren’t interested in deals. A great deal can be quickly ruined by persons of questionable character, and a good deal can exceed greatly by persons of extraordinary character. So, the Saudis choose to focus on what really matters.
Context: The Kingdom of Bahrain is a small, oil-rich island nation -- actually, a bunch of natural and man-made islands totaling a bit more than 300 sq miles -- directly north of Qatar and east of the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia. About half of the 1.2M inhabitants are expats, and not many Americans, other than military. NSA Bahrain is home to NAVCENT or the US Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command, so when it was relatively easy to get into Bahrain, I thought the significant US military presence in Bahrain smoothed the process so I just needed my passport (link). Moreover, 15 or so years ago, many Middle Eastern countries, including Bahrain, were well along in the process of reinventing themselves given the success of Dubai. Once perceived rigid regimes were now more welcoming to the world evident by rapid construction of architectural masterpieces, and hosting worldclass sporting events and business conferences. In early March 2010, racing fans from all over the world started pouring into Manama, Bahrain, as Formula 1 kicked off their season in Bahrain. The newfound stature and economic boon earned by Bahrain, however, didn’t come easy. Just a short 11 months after my visit, protests and violence, which became known as the Arab Spring in Bahrain, threatened the success of this country for almost 2 months, but there was no hint of any of that, nor evidence of any dissent among the Bahraini people we saw in Manama, during this trip.
4 March 2010: There were four of us who arrived in Manama throughout the day, and we all met at Trader Vic’s, a terrific restaurant club at our hotel, the Ritz Carlton, as we had two days of intense due diligence meetings in Khobar beginning the next day. Think of Khobar, KSA, as a suburb of Dammam, and Dammam is near where the world’s largest oil company, ARAMCO has its headquarters. My team consisted of our Landman, our Chief Financial and Operations Officers, and me, the leader and entrepreneur. The directive from the consultant was clear: Sheikh had arranged for a due diligence team to review financial, operational, and environmental materials, and our management plans for the US-based oil and gas company we endeavored to acquire for $150M and had asked him to consider participating in financially. In a very short week after the consultant called with the news, we adopted an agenda, organized the data, prepared the presentations, practiced our pitches, and worked hard to anticipate questions and concise responses to the same. We were ready.
Even though the Bahrain Grand Prix was the following week, the F1 teams were already arriving when we got to Manama, and most all were staying at the Ritz. Lots of fun. We were all huge F1 fans. Would we get distracted? Lewis Hamilton was the 2009 F1 Champion, and his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes was displayed in the lobby, so I had to sneak behind the rope for a couple photos (link).
5 March 2010: We weren’t distracted. After meeting for an early breakfast, we met our driver and he drove us the 48 miles from the Ritz -- across the King Fahad Causeway bridge that connected Bahrain to KSA -- to the Sheridan Hotel, just off the highway in Khobar where there was a conference room all set up for our meetings. I already had my travel visa to get into KSA (link), and my colleagues got theirs during our preparation week, so all was good so far.
Once directed to the conference room, we were met by the leader of the due diligence team: الزعيم or “The Boss” -- a mid-30s, brilliant, petroleum engineer, handsome and confident, who spoke perfect English. Again, I’m a big man: 6’5” and 250 lbs on a good day but, regrettably, today wasn’t a good day. Again. It wasn’t a good day for me because the Boss was fit. Thin. Not emaciated skinny or oppressively thin, but fit, like seemingly all other Saudis, and I was not. I need to get in shape. The Boss also was very concise when he spoke. No chit-chat. No emotion. Deliberate. Almost like why waste words? OK. After brief introductions, the Boss directed us to our seats at the conference table that could’ve accommodated 3x as many persons. There were several others on his side, who he did not introduce. I didn’t take it as rude. It didn’t matter. Unlike in Jeddah or Riyadh a few weeks back when there was no business, this was all business. The Boss then directed us to “proceed” -- literally with just one word. We chose to start with Operations. The Boss didn’t reveal anything, neither approval nor disapproval. He was stoic. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t pleasant or kind. He was. But somehow revealing to us what he thought didn’t matter, rather his impressions mattered to who he reported to. I never experienced that before. And when the Boss spoke to his colleagues, they spoke in Arabic. Also brief. Emotionless. Couldn’t play poker with this guy. When the Boss asked us about this or that, he spoke in perfect English and he was specific, purposeful, not hypothetical. An economy of words. Brilliant. The Boss then announced a break for lunch, and that we would meet back in the same room in one hour. He didn’t join us. The four of us had a quick bite at the hotel café, and we were back in the conference room about 50 minutes later. They were all still there. Working through the data and documents on what we had just presented. Did they leave? Eat? Maybe that’s why they’re so fit. Their work space on the conference table wasn’t messy. It was organized. Focused. Impressive.
When ready, the Boss then directed us to “please, proceed” and the afternoon session began. We chose to resume with our financial presentations and analysis. So it went. More of the same -- when speaking amongst themselves, it was in Arabic, quietly, but efficiently, and we had no idea what was said. No raised eyebrows. No smiles or frowns. Just brief exchanges not meant to interrupt. They listened. It seemed clear that they weren’t there to like us, or not like us. They had a job to do. The Boss then ended the day, thanked us, and said that we will resume in the morning. We then packed up our things and left the conference room. They stayed. Once we got back to the Ritz, we gathered at Trader Vic’s and debriefed on what we thought with a beer, or two. Wow. None of us had a clue on how we did. We all thought we executed as planned, but how would we know? We agreed that the Boss was very capable. Smart. We had no idea on the others because we had no interaction with them. Tomorrow was another day.
6 March 2010: Same morning process: breakfast, driver, 45-min drive across the bridge, and back in the conference room. The Boss and his colleagues were waiting. Quick greetings, and then back to work. “Proceed”. We continued with reserve data, minerals, and environment. Then lunch for an hour. When we got back, it was again, as if they never left. Do they ever eat? We ended the due diligence meetings with our management plan presentation. When all was done, the Boss stood and thanked us for coming. He was pleasant. He had kind eyes, but didn’t invite further discussion. It was done. We’d hear from whomever. I thanked him as well and as my colleagues were packing up, I added, “…please call or email me if there is anything else you need.” I had given the Boss my card when we first got started. He acknowledged and offered a sincere smile. Probably more of a courtesy.
Once we got back to the Ritz, we were relieved -- not because it was tense or stressful, just because we had no feedback or clue how we were perceived by them. Oh well. We had a great dinner and enjoyed ourselves as the F1 craziness at the Ritz started building as race day neared. Our Landman and CFO caught an early flight out, followed a bit later by our COO. My flight was a day later so I spent the day walking around Manama. What became clear to me is the extraordinary vision HE Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has for Manama and Bahrain -- similar in brilliance as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Jeddah -- shown for all to see in a model displayed at the City Center Plaza (link). When I wondered back to my hotel, I thought how blessed I am to experience all what I’ve seen, the people I have met, and majesty of our God who created it all.
Epilogue: Not long after we returned back to the States from Manama, and irrespective of our signed Agreement or anything else to do with us, the Patriarch of the family oil and gas company changed his mind and chose not to sell. He wanted to keep the company after all. It was done. Unfortunately, we would never know if our efforts in KSA would’ve succeeded. It was moot.
After my experiences in KSA, I got in the pool for exercise, changed my diet and lost 60 lbs in 5 months. It’s been 15 years and I still swim, watch what I eat, and kept the weight off. Now all are good days.
8 February 2011: A few days before I caught a flight to Montreal, I had an unexpected yet pleasant email exchange with the Boss. He was in Montreal on assignment, and asked if I was free to meet. I said sure! So I booked a flight and when I first saw him, we began by talking about family. How wonderful. I truly enjoyed my conversations with a new friend, the Boss. He still had an economy with words, but I guess that’s habit. And now some 15 years after Bahrain, and having enjoyed countless conversations and visits, I consider the Boss my best friend. I am Christian and he is Muslim, and yet we pray together -- for each other, and for our families.
So Why do Middle Easterners Hate Americans? They don’t. Just the contrary, and this American is so very grateful for our friends in the Middle East, and for the Boss. Some will continue to say that this, too, was anecdotal. OK. Perhaps. Look for the final chapter in this Blog series when I share about the year I lived in Dubai…
Postscript: Some may wonder why I did not mention, by name, the “Boss” or my colleagues. I prayed, and then prayed more, and finally decided that there’s too much hate in the world promoted by zealots seeking an agenda promoted by man. Not God. We are all God’s children, and God is love. We all share this small world and have a right to live in peace.
