James Smith, United States Ambassador to the Kingdom, surprised everyone at the Janadriya Festival when he arrived in full traditional Saudi wear, including a fashionably tilted eqal, golden dagger worn like those from the south, and a Najdi thobe. Smith, who flew combat missions from Dhahran Air Base during Desert Storm in 1990, hails from Brooks, Georgia. His wife is Dr. Janet Breslin-Smith, who comes from Salem, New Hampshire. He assumed his post as US Ambassador to the Kingdom in September 2009. Al-Eqtisadiah Arabic business daily quoted an embassy spokesman as saying that the ambassador dressed in Saudi costume to show his respect for the Saudi culture and heritage being showcased at the Janadriya Festival. “The ambassador wanted to show Saudis how much he appreciates the festival which reflects the deep-rooted culture of Saudis,” he said. Smith has done similar things before, all around the country, the spokesman said.
