"The State Department's heroes are the front-line diplomats who have been unheralded, but crucial in the line of national defense for two decades of wars in the Middle East. In The Ambassadors, Paul Richter shares the astonishing, true-life stories of four expeditionary diplomats who do the hardest things in the hardest places." --Provided by publisher.

Cast of characters -- Timeline of events -- The best people for the worst places -- Go figure something out -- The prefect storm -- A government of one -- With us and against us -- Talent hunt -- From enemies, friends -- Not peace but more peaceful -- Lost in translation -- The lid stays on -- Flowers, and stones, for the ambassador -- Envoy to the rebels -- The long goodbye -- Libya loses a friend -- Arab spring and fall -- In good conscience -- Cool heads in hot spots.