The Lawfare Podcast
Lawfare Daily: Steve Coll on Saddam Hussein and the Limits of American Power in the Middle East
Sep 26, 2024
Steve Coll, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, delves into his latest work focused on Saddam Hussein and the convoluted U.S.-Iraq relationship. He reveals how Saddam’s belief in America's omnipotence led to his downfall when his fictitious WMD program became a justification for invasion. The discussion dives into the complexities of intelligence ties, highlighting how the CIA’s early support played a role in building Saddam's paranoia. Coll emphasizes the importance of understanding historical perspectives to avoid repeating past mistakes in U.S. foreign policy.
57:31
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Quick takeaways
- Saddam Hussein's decisions were often driven by a desire to maintain power, despite the risks they posed to his regime.
- The U.S. intelligence community's misinterpretations and shifting strategies led to a flawed understanding of Iraq and contributed to the invasion.
Deep dives
Understanding Saddam's Strategic Choices
Saddam Hussein's leadership was characterized by a complex interplay of personal motivations and geopolitical pressures. He frequently made strategic decisions aimed at preserving his power, even if they appeared detrimental to his regime in the long run. For instance, his insistence on maintaining a façade of possessing weapons of mass destruction stemmed from a desire to leverage international sanctions while avoiding humiliation from inspections. This paradox shaped his calculations, as he sought to mitigate both external and internal pressures in a landscape fraught with risk.
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