Intelligence Failure: Why The CIA Missed Saddam's Bluff | Steve Coll
For decades, the United States misunderstood Saddam Hussein. We saw him as a secular counterweight to Iran, then as an irrational madman. Both views were wrong. In this episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steve Coll reveals the secret history of the CIA's relationship with Iraq. From sharing intelligence during the Iran-Iraq war to the disastrous miscalculations of 2003, discover how Washington and Baghdad were trapped in a cycle of mutual confusion that led to catastrophe. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: The conflict that defined a generation 00:54 - Who was Saddam? (The violent childhood) 03:15 - How the Ba'ath Party seized control 07:25 - How Saddam kept power (The "Coup-Proof" Strategy) 12:14 - The Chemical Weapons Decision 15:58 - Why the US supported Iraq against Iran 19:33 - The Truth: Did the US help Saddam use gas? 23:55 - The turning point: The Invasion of Kuwait 27:16 - Why the CIA missed the warning signs 32:48 - The 1990s: Sanctions, Inspectors, and "Cat & Mouse" 36:25 - WMD: Why Saddam Lied about the Bomb 41:10 - The "Achilles Trap": Why he couldn't prove he was innocent 45:48 - The Tragedy of 2003: A war based on a lie 47:30 - What we still get wrong about Dictators Guest: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steve Coll Subscribe for more conversations about Geopolitics & History. My guest Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo... Me Newsletter: https://thehundred.substack.com Book: https://www.marceldirsus.com/tyrants Twitter: https://x.com/marceldirsus Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/marceldirsus... I'll see you soon. Images: Steve Coll announcement by Columbia University in the City of New York: https://president.columbia.edu/news/a... The Next Best with Marcel Dirsus offers deep dives into geopolitics and international relations. We provide serious political commentary on foreign policy challenges, modern warfare, and global security. đź”” Subscribe for more analysis:    / @drmarceldirsus  📺 Watch our most popular video:    • How the US Weaponized the Global Economy |... Â
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