The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll | Geopolitics

📖 The Achilles Trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq by Steve Coll (2024)
👉 See Book on Amazon | https://amzn.to/4gxkvzW

The Achilles Trap: Unpacking Saddam’s Paranoia and the Path to the 2003 Iraq Invasion

Dive into Steve Coll's enlightening book 'The Achilles Trap,' which explores Saddam Hussein, CIA misjudgments, and the decades-long buildup to the 2003 Iraq invasion. Understand the psychological warfare, internal paranoia, and misinterpretations that paved the way for a historic conflict. Featuring insights into Saddam’s brutal regime, his dealings with the US, and the miscommunications that led to disaster. A crucial look at history’s cyclical nature of mistrust and deception.

00:00 Introduction: The Achilles Trap and the Iraq Invasion
01:07 Saddam's Complex Persona and Regime
03:21 Internal Paranoia and External Suspicion
04:53 The Iran-Contra Scandal and Betrayal
06:17 The Lead-Up to the Kuwait Invasion
07:17 The Post-Gulf War Deception Cycle
08:20 The Final Misjudgment and Invasion
10:19 Saddam's Last Days: Fiction and Reality

#geopolitics #history #education