The Achilles Trap Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of Americas Invasion of Iraq (Steve Coll)

"The Achilles Trap" delves into the complex and tumultuous relationship between the United States and Saddam Hussein, unraveling the geopolitical missteps and human errors that culminated in the disastrous invasion of Iraq in 2003. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steve Coll meticulously examines decades of political maneuvering, intelligence failures, and cultural misunderstandings that led to one of the costliest conflicts in recent history.

Beginning with Saddam's rise to power in 1979 and Iraq's clandestine nuclear weapons program, Coll navigates through the intricate web of motives and decisions within Saddam's inner circle. Drawing from unpublished sources, interviews, and Saddam's own transcripts, Coll paints a comprehensive portrait of a leader whose paranoia and inconsistencies were often misunderstood by the CIA and successive US administrations.

"The Achilles Trap" sheds light on the complexities of statecraft and the consequences of hubris and vanity on both sides of the conflict. With unparalleled depth and insight, Coll's narrative offers a definitive account of how geopolitical miscalculations and power dynamics resulted in immeasurable human suffering and reshaped the political landscape.