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Secret History of the Iraq War
Harper Collins ^ | 6/04 | Yossef Bodansky

Posted on 06/16/2004 8:08:52 AM PDT by Maigret

Secret History of the Iraq War

by Yossef Bodansky

In the months leading up to March 2003, fresh from its swift and heady victory in Afghanistan, the Bush administration mobilized the United States armed forces to overthrow the government of Iraq. Eight months after the president declared an end to major combat operations, Saddam Hussein was captured in a farmhouse in Al-Dawr. And yet neither peace nor democracy has taken hold in Iraq; instead the country has plunged into terrorist insurgency and guerrilla warfare, with no end in sight. What went wrong?

In The Secret History of the Iraq War, bestselling author Yossef Bodansky offers an astonishing new account of the war and its aftermath -- a war that was doomed from the start, he argues, by the massive and systemic failures of the American intelligence community. Drawing back the curtain of politicized debate, Bodansky -- a longtime expert and director of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare -- reveals that nearly every aspect of America's conflict with Iraq has been misunderstood, in both the court of public opinion and the White House itself. Among his revelations:

The most authoritative account of Saddam Hussein's support for Islamic terrorist organizations -- including extensive new reporting on his active cooperation with al-Qaeda in Iraq long after the fall of Baghdad

Extensive new information on Iraq's major chemical and biological weapons programs -- including North Korea's role in building still-undetected secret storage facilities and Iraq's transfer of banned materials to Syria, Iran, and Libya

The first account of Saddam's plan for Iraq, Syria, and Iran to join Yasser Arafat's Palestinian forces to attack Israel, throw the region into turmoil, and upend the American campaign

The untold story of Russia's attempt to launch a coup against Saddam before the war -- and how the CIA thwarted it by ensuring that Iraq was forewarned

Dramatic details about Saddam's final days on the run, including the untold story of a near miss with U.S. troops and the stunning revelation that Saddam was already in custody at the time of his capture -- and was probably betrayed by members of his own Tikriti clan

The definitive account of the anti-U.S. resistance and uprising in Iraq, as the American invasion ignited an Islamic jihad and Iran-inspired intifada, threatening to plunge the region into irreversible chaos fueled by hatred and revenge

Revelations about the direct involvement of Osama bin Laden in the terrorism campaigns in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the rest of the Middle East -- including the major role played by Iran and HizbAllah in al-Qaeda's operations

Drawing upon an extraordinary wealth of previously untapped intelligence and regional sources, The Secret History of the Iraq War presents the most detailed, fascinating, and convincing account of the most controversial war of our times -- and offers a sobering indictment of an intelligence system that failed the White House, the American military, and the people of the Middle East.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alqaeda; bodansky; bookreview; iraq; iraqwar; southwestasia; war
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I saw Yossef Bodansky on FOX this morning, talking about his new book, it sounds most interesting, especially in light of the 9/11 commission's expected finding that there is/was no link of Iraq with Al-Qaeda.
1 posted on 06/16/2004 8:09:12 AM PDT by Maigret
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To: Maigret

His book
Bin Laden: The Man Who Declared War on America is REALLY good


I can't wait to get the new one!

I used a lot of it on my timeline
http://www.finchfactory.com/howdiditcometothis.htm


2 posted on 06/16/2004 8:15:12 AM PDT by Blackrain4xmas
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To: Maigret
The untold story of Russia's attempt to launch a coup against Saddam before the war -- and how the CIA thwarted it by ensuring that Iraq was forewarned.

What would this, if true, lead us to believe?

Does anyone else find this disturbing?

3 posted on 06/16/2004 8:17:39 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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To: Maigret

I am sure that this book will be illuminating at some level but I do suggest that it is way too early to answer the rhetorical question "what went wrong." Maybe in a few years, a greater sample of information and results will provide a much better data base from which to draw conclusions on whether the U.S. led effort was a good one or a poor one.


4 posted on 06/16/2004 8:18:29 AM PDT by MarkT
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To: WhiteGuy
"Does anyone else find this disturbing?"

I find it highly unlikely.
5 posted on 06/16/2004 8:20:04 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Maigret
The definitive account of the anti-U.S. resistance and uprising in Iraq, as the American invasion ignited an Islamic jihad and Iran-inspired intifada, threatening to plunge the region into irreversible chaos fueled by hatred and revenge...

LOL! I know it's only publishing hype, but trust me, that area has been in chaos fueled by hatred and revenge since Hammurabi was in diapers.

6 posted on 06/16/2004 8:20:12 AM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: Maigret

If its like his previous works it will be a very lengthy (but worthwhile) read. I would also suggest reading his "The High Cost of Peace" which really lays out the middle east well. His biography of Bin Laden is THE reference book to read about al queda.

You better read it because despite his unimpeachable credentials, high level of documentation, and unquestioned expertise you will see NONE of this on the major news networks who will be too busy discussing prison abuse and the 9/11 commission's ill informed opinions.


7 posted on 06/16/2004 8:21:32 AM PDT by Dr Snide (vis pacem, para bellum - Prepare for war if you want peace)
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To: Maigret
I saw Yossef Bodansky on FOX this morning, talking about his new book, it sounds most interesting, especially in light of the 9/11 commission's expected finding that there is/was no link of Iraq with Al-Qaeda.

I don't think it matters if there were no links of 9/11 with Iraq. My opinion, Iraq was something that needed to be finished up, or else we'd have troops and aircraft tied up for decades in that area, not to mention that Saddam's sons made him look like a nice guy.

Anyways, the war is still going on, I'm not so sure putting out a book about the history of any aspect of it is a wise thing to do.

8 posted on 06/16/2004 8:21:55 AM PDT by af_vet_rr
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To: Maigret
especially in light of the 9/11 commission's expected finding that there is/was no link of Iraq with Al-Qaeda.

Do you put any weight whatsoever into the findings of that commission?

9 posted on 06/16/2004 8:23:04 AM PDT by Vigilantcitizen
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To: WhiteGuy

If Russia had pulled off a coup, WHO would be in charge there and HOW would the country of Iraq (or the world) be better off?

let's see...
Russia would control their oil thus putting the US in an even worse situation regarding oil supplies

Most likely, a new dictator would be running the place.

Most likely, international terrorists would still have a place to hang out in safety.

I think that things have gone as well as we could have dreamed of. Sure, soldiers have died. That is sad, but that is war. Sure, fighting continues but not as much as the media wants us to believe. Sure, some freaks (Who probably watched too much MTV) abused some prisoners.

The fact this guy claims that Iraq is in complete chaos proves that he has an axe to grind and is a liar.

The vast majority of the millions of Iraqis are working, going home, enjoying life with their families, and praying for the day that elections come and they can decide the fate of their own nation.

More people died in Detroit last week due to violent crimes than in Iraq. This is just another anti-American (aka Democrat) book intended to attack Bush.


10 posted on 06/16/2004 8:26:08 AM PDT by Paloma_55
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To: Steve_Seattle

I find it highly unlikely.

What factors contribute to your doubt?

Like you, I really don't want to believe this is true, but this author has some credibility.


11 posted on 06/16/2004 8:27:33 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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To: Maigret
Yes, I'm sure the book will serve wonderfully as fodder for the progressives and their Communist show trials that are all the rage in Washington these days.

The 911 commission isn't going to claim that there were no links. The purposefully leaked statement that I've read could be summarized as: Yes, the terrorists were in contact with Saddam and his leaders. But Saddam was such a wonderfully warm and fuzzy guy that he would of never actually did anything to help them.

12 posted on 06/16/2004 8:28:16 AM PDT by avg_freeper (Gunga galunga. Gunga, gunga galunga)
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To: Maigret

bookmark


13 posted on 06/16/2004 8:33:04 AM PDT by tentmaker
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To: Paloma_55
Russia would control their oil.................

The control of Iraqi oil has had very little effect on the oil supplies to the US for the past 10 years, American oil companies buy most of their barrels from sources other than Iraq.

But the control of the oil profits from iraqi oil fields IS the key factor, if the author's assertion is to be believed...................
14 posted on 06/16/2004 8:35:17 AM PDT by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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To: WhiteGuy

And Tenet resigned for 'personal reasons' ... poor guy takes everything too personally. /sarcasm


15 posted on 06/16/2004 8:40:09 AM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: af_vet_rr
"Anyways, the war is still going on, I'm not so sure putting out a book about the history of any aspect of it is a wise thing to do."

I don't think anything anyone says on this thread can be more pertinent that that observation. The very fact that he has rushed this book out so soon undermines his other claims. He has declared the patient (Iraq) dead, even as it sits up and chats with the doctors.
16 posted on 06/16/2004 8:40:30 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle
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To: Maigret
And yet neither peace nor democracy has taken hold in Iraq; instead the country has plunged into terrorist insurgency and guerrilla warfare, with no end in sight. What went wrong?

We captured Saddam Hussein.
We have dismantled Iraq's ability to attack our oil sources in neighboring countries.
The rest of the Muslim world (and North Korea) has been shown that we will fight back if provoked.
Qadafi in Libya has seen the light and has turned over his WMDs as a result of Iraq
We have proven the existance of WMDs
We have ended the diasterous oil-for-food debacle and have re-established full trade with Iraq

What went wrong? Almost nothing.

17 posted on 06/16/2004 8:45:11 AM PDT by kidd
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To: Billthedrill

Wouldn't it be terrible if we have created Anti-US hatred in the Islamic world?!?!? Why.. they might even do something really bad to us... like fly airliners full of innocent men, women and children into buildings full of innocent men, women and children.

Yea... we wouldn't want to make them mad at us.


18 posted on 06/16/2004 8:50:57 AM PDT by Paloma_55
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To: af_vet_rr
My opinion, Iraq was something that needed to be finished up, or else we'd have troops and aircraft tied up for decades in that area...........

What in your opinion makes you think that won't be the case anyway, except tenfold?

19 posted on 06/16/2004 8:55:02 AM PDT by varon (Allegiance to the constitution, always. Allegiance to a political party, never.)
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To: WhiteGuy
Does anyone else find this disturbing?

No. It means Russia tried to preempt our preemption and keep the Iraqi people enslaved. That would have kept Iraq as a significant market for them and kept the gravy train of OUR MONEY in the form of oil for food flowing.

Instead, we have liberated this people, cut off the fools in France, Germany and Russia from their gravy train and established a democratic foothold smackdab in the middle of the middle east. Not too bad if you ask me.

20 posted on 06/16/2004 8:59:58 AM PDT by pgyanke (Kerry spent more time this year on personal appearance than voting on legislation - Peach)
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