The Achilles Trap

by Steve Coll
The Achilles Trap cover
Good Books rating 4.38
Politics and Current Affairs
Technical:
  • ID: 484
  • Added: 2025-09-12
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9780525562276
  • Publisher: Penguin
  • Published: 2024-02-27
  • Formats: 8
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £14.99 Hardback • £30.00

The Achilles Trap unravels the intricate web of power, paranoia, and geopolitics that culminated in America's catastrophic invasion of Iraq in 2003. Drawing on unpublished sources, extensive interviews, and Saddam Hussein’s own transcripts, Steve Coll explores the dictator’s rise to power, his secret nuclear ambitions, and the flawed intelligence that convinced the U.S. he possessed weapons of mass destruction. This narrative sheds light on the failures of diplomacy and statecraft that precipitated immense human suffering and reshaped global politics. Coll’s work goes beyond the usual political and military analysis by humanizing the key figures within Saddam’s inner circle—diplomats, scientists, and generals—who operated under his brutal regime. The book also critically examines America’s decades-long misreading of Saddam’s motives and the cultural miscommunications that fueled the conflict. The Achilles Trap stands as a definitive historical investigation into the tragic consequences of hubris and error on both sides of this pivotal chapter in modern history.

Reviews
churchtimes.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-09-17
intriguing 4.50

Steve Coll's 'The Achilles Trap' offers a distinctive perspective on the Iraq War, arguing that Saddam Hussein's complexities were overlooked by U.S. policymakers. The book is praised for its thorough research and vivid character portrayals, providing a nuanced understanding of the events leading up to the 2003 invasion.

Steve Coll's 'The Achilles Trap' delves into the intricate dynamics surrounding Saddam Hussein's rule and the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The reviewer highlights Coll's success in broadening the narrative by incorporating Saddam's perspective and new revelations. The book is commended for its meticulous research, drawing from over 100 interviews and a wealth of sources. It provides a thorough depiction of Saddam and pivotal events, exploring nuanced complexities in a captivating manner. The reviewer notes the book's significance in understanding the decision-making processes of authoritarian leaders, especially in today's political climate.

Quick quotes

    Coll argues that Saddam’s adversaries overlooked crucial subtleties of his character and governance.

    The book is divided chronologically into three parts commencing with Saddam’s ascent to power in 1979 and the inception of Iraq’s covert nuclear-weapons program shortly thereafter.

    The narrative intricacies, both substantial and minute, maintain interest throughout what is a lengthy book.

spectrumculture.com · Unknown · 2025-09-17
excellent 4.50

The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll is a masterpiece that navigates the complexities of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, highlighting the catastrophic failures of intelligence and the tragic human cost of statecraft. The book peels back the layers of one of the defining moments of the late 20th century, offering profound insights into current controversies.

The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll is an excellent book that delves into the tumultuous history of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, from the Iran-Iraq War to the invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent occupation. The reviewer, Sir Malcolm Evans, praises the book for its thorough examination of the intelligence failures that led to the 2003 invasion and the tragic human cost of statecraft. Coll's work effortlessly guides readers through the complexities of Iraqi nuclear programs, US engagement with Iraq, and Saddam's fatal miscalculations. The book is described as a masterpiece, laden with implications for current controversies and offering profound insights into one of the defining moments of the late 20th century.

Quick quotes

    This book highlights just how little was really known at the time, and the catastrophic failures of intelligence which underpinned this.

    It is a masterpiece, laden with implications for current controversies that beset our world.

    Above all else, the book subtly and unemotionally peels back the layers of one of the defining moments of the late 20th century.

elsewhere.co.nz · Unknown · 2024-04-27
intriguing 4.50

The Achilles Trap by Steve Coll delves into the miscommunications and misunderstandings between the US and Saddam Hussein that led to the Iraq War. The book reveals Saddam's obsession with writing novels and his belief that the CIA knew Iraq had no WMDs, while the US intelligence community remained convinced otherwise.

Steve Coll's The Achilles Trap offers a unique perspective on the lead-up to the Iraq War by examining the previously unpublished transcripts and documents from Saddam Hussein's regime. The book highlights the mutual misunderstandings between the US and Iraq, with Saddam believing the CIA was aware of his lack of WMDs and using the pretense of having them to deter enemies like Iran. Meanwhile, the US intelligence community remained convinced of Iraq's WMD capabilities, partly due to a lack of direct contact with Saddam's regime. Coll's research reveals Saddam's shift from a militaristic leader to an aspiring novelist, which further contributed to the US's misjudgment of his intentions. The book argues that closer contact between the US and Iraq could have prevented the war, as it would have revealed Saddam's changed priorities and the absence of WMDs.

Quick quotes

    Saddam was trying to signal his pride and his fear of humiliation and of vulnerability to both internal attacks and potentially external attacks

    The later novels are completely unreadable and basically works of propaganda

    Closer contact would have made decision-makers in Washington more aware how much Saddam had changed by 2000.

Stars and Stripes · 2024-04-19
revealing 4.00

The book reveals how Western leaders misunderstood Saddam’s mindset, attributing his actions to malice rather than incompetence, and details the CIA’s major analytical failures leading to war.

This review discusses how the book provides an in-depth look into Saddam Hussein’s distrust of the US and the CIA, shaped by events like the Iran-Contra Affair, contrasting Saddam’s view of deliberate malice with the book’s portrayal of American incompetence and confirmation bias. It underscores the complex portrait of Saddam as a potentially more rational actor than perceived, while critiquing the US foreign policy errors that validated his suspicions. The reviewer appreciates the extensive research, including hundreds of hours of tapes, that shed light on the tragic miscalculations culminating in the Iraq invasion.

Quick quotes

    Saddam attributed to malice what 'The Achilles Trap' attributes to incompetence.

    The CIA’s role in Iraq forms much of the American narrative in 'The Achilles Trap.'

    The book’s final chapters describe U.S. marching toward war based on a mistake formed out of confirmation bias and an inability to understand Saddam’s intentions.

Appears in Lists