The Achilles Trap

Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the Origins of America's Invasion of Iraq

By: Steve Coll

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

A New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book • Named a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker • Nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction • Finalist for the PEN America Literary Award

“Excellent . . . A more intimate picture of the dictator’s thinking about world politics, local power and his relationship to the United States than has been seen before.” —The New York Times

“Another triumph from one of our best journalists.” —The Washington Post

"Voluminously researched and compulsively readable." —Air Mail

From bestselling and Pulitzer Prize–winning author Steve Coll, the definitive story of the decades-long relationship between the United States and Saddam Hussein, and a deeply researched and news-breaking investigation into how human error, cultural miscommunication, and hubris led to one of the costliest geopolitical conflicts of our time

When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, its message was clear: Iraq, under the control of strongman Saddam Hussein, possessed weapons of mass destruction that, if left unchecked, posed grave danger to the world. But when no WMDs were found, the United States and its allies were forced to examine the political and intelligence failures that had led to the invasion and the occupation, and the civil war that followed. One integral question has remained unsolved: Why had Saddam seemingly sacrificed his long reign in power by giving the false impression that he had hidden stocks of dangerous weapons?

The Achilles Trap masterfully untangles the people, ploys of power, and geopolitics that led to America’s disastrous war with Iraq and, for the first time, details America’s fundamental miscalculations during its decades-long relationship with Saddam Hussein. Beginning with Saddam’s rise to power in 1979 and the birth of Iraq’s secret nuclear weapons program, Steve Coll traces Saddam’s motives by way of his inner circle. He brings to life the diplomats, scientists, family members, and generals who had no choice but to defer to their leader—a leader directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, as well as the torture or imprisonment of hundreds of thousands more. This was a man whose reasoning was impossible to reduce to a simple explanation, and the CIA and successive presidential administrations failed to grasp critical nuances of his paranoia, resentments, and inconsistencies—even when the stakes were incredibly high.

Calling on unpublished and underreported sources, interviews with surviving participants, and Saddam’s own transcripts and audio files, Coll pulls together an incredibly comprehensive portrait of a man who was convinced the world was out to get him and acted accordingly. A work of great historical significance, The Achilles Trap is the definitive account of how corruptions of power, lies of diplomacy, and vanity—on both sides—led to avoidable errors of statecraft, ones that would enact immeasurable human suffering and forever change the political landscape as we know it.©2024 Steve Coll (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“[M]agisterial . . . The Achilles Trap’s virtues don’t derive so much from its counterfactuals as its ironies. Saddam Hussein lecturing the Arab world about strong men having their Achilles’ heel is ironic. So is the United States naming its covert regime-change program DB ACHILLES. What’s even more ironic is their juxtaposition. In the age of the Internet meme, one is hard-pressed not to think of the two Spider-Men pointing fingers at each other.”—The Nation

From the Saddam’s Point of View.

The book is not at all sympathetic to Saddam but this is the best account I have seen how his own foolish behavior contributed to the invasion. That said, it is also clear that the Bush administration willfully misinterpreted what they did know. Call it dishonest or more likely confirms bias, the US invasion of Iraq was a tragic mistake. Tragic not because Saddam was a victim, but because the invasion led to a decade of misery and chaos and tarnished America’s reputation. If you haven’t already read Coll’s Ghost Wars you should get it now.

Revealing history; excellent performance

A reminder of an eventful and at times frustrating if not infuriating time. From Iran/Contra through the Gulf War, 9/11, the fruitless search for what turned out to be nonexistent WMD up till the marketing of a disastrous and unnecessary war.

Very well written. Throughly explained

Outstanding. Touched on it briefly in the epilogue, but hope he releases a sequel on the US war in Iraq and its lasting consequences

Excellent

very good narrative of a complex story, presented in a lively way that keeps the reader engaged

The story, often untold is detailed and in depth.

Nothing with the Story, or the reader, but there is a background noise in the recording that is distracting.

A fascinating representation of never before told history that has shaped the middle east.

The story telling is amazing. Essential reading for every history buff, highly recommend even if you are not.

Inside you of US politics with Iraq

I found the story you have unique and fascinating inside you on US politics concerning relations with Iraq and leadership to the last 30+ years. I think this unique perspective and insight collaborated information is important for all Americans to understand the politics. What happened between relationship of the US Iraq ultimately the entire Middle East. Hall recommended.

Steve does it again !!!

Excellent story telling - great pace delivered multiple perspectives with previously unknown details. Incredible read (I listened to be fair). Steve the goat!

Excellent Information and Narrator

Loved the book. Having been in Iraq during the infancy of OIF as a young man, the information provided in this book was very helpful in me placing certain experiences and perceptions into a more mature and informed perspective.

Odyssey of a story

Wonderful retelling of the long story that ended with the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Which started its own odyssey. Highlights the cast of characters that kept circling around each other for decades and the misunderstanding, ignorance, and hubris on both sides.