17min chapter

The Realignment cover image

459 | Steve Coll: Saddam Hussein, the CIA, and the Perils of Misreading Dictator's Ambitions

The Realignment

CHAPTER

Saddam Hussein's Motivations and the Invasion of Iraq

Delve into Saddam Hussein's beliefs surrounding weapons of mass destruction, including his strategic reasoning behind possessing chemical weapons and his post-9/11 mental state. Explore the decision-making process of the invasion of Iraq, discussing key figures' roles and contrasting the focus on WMDs with broader warfare expenses. Reflect on the prevalent preemptive threat perception and political dynamics that influenced the American mindset shift post-9/11.

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