The Achilles trap: Saddam Hussein, the C.I.A., and the origins of America's invasion of Iraq

Introduction

Part one: The enemy of my enemy, December 1979 to August 1990. The physicist and the dictator

A spy bearing gifts

A man and the city

Ambassadors of cynicism

Department 3000

A conspiracy foretold

Druid leader

"Who is going to say anything?"

Prodigal son

Project 17

Part two: The liar's truths, August 1990 to September 2001. Crash programs

"The situation is under excellent control"

Iraqi spring

The liar's truths

Mr. Max and the Mayfair swindler

"We need to turn this thing off, now!"

"There would be a bloodbath"

Honor among tyrants

Spy v. spy

Crime and punishment

The logic of illusion

The secret garden

Part three: Blind man's bluff, September 2001 to March 2003. The pundit

Cold pitch

Cracked mirrors

"Do we have WMD?"

The edge of the abyss

Epilogue.