Slow Burn The Road to the Iraq War | 3. Mushroom Clouds
10 snips
May 5, 2021 The podcast delves into the pivotal role of weapons of mass destruction in justifying the Iraq War. It recounts the harrowing experiences of intelligence officers uncovering Iraq's hidden threats. The narrative questions the Bush administration's reliance on dubious intelligence against Saddam Hussein. It also explores the emergence of the Bush Doctrine post-9/11 and the complex dynamics between intelligence agencies and political motives. Additionally, shifting media narratives reveal how public fear shaped perceptions of Iraq's ties to terrorism and urgency for war.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Barton's Inspection
- Rod Barton, an Australian intelligence officer, investigated Saddam's weapons programs in 1991.
- The Iraqis were supposed to declare and destroy WMDs as part of a UN agreement.
Hidden Weapons Programs
- Saddam Hussein's regime hid nuclear and bioweapons programs despite agreeing to destroy them.
- Dr. Rihab Taha, a British-educated scientist, led the bioweapons program under duress.
Dr. Taha's Confession
- Dr. Taha, known as "Dr. Germ," initially resisted making bioweapons but complied under threats.
- She confessed to the program after the inspectors presented their findings and she broke down crying.