America committed its worst foreign policy mistake of the post-Cold War era when it invaded Iraq in 2003 to disarm Saddam Hussein of his supposed weapons of mass destruction.
Another central question has rarely been examined: Why did Mr. Hussein sacrifice his long reign in power — and ultimately his life — by creating an impression that he held dangerous weapons when he did not?
Mr. Hussein recorded his private leadership conversations as assiduously as Richard Nixon.
He left behind about 2,000 hours of tape recordings as well as a vast archive of meeting minutes and presidential records.
And they clarify the complicated matter of why he could not persuade U.N. inspectors, multiple spy agencies and many world leaders that he did not possess weapons of mass destruction.
Persons:
America, Saddam Hussein, Biden, George W, Hussein, Richard Nixon, Bush
Locations:
Iraq, Iran, Washington, United States, China, Russia