Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally by Friedman, Alan
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83 of 84 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dr. Frankenstein Creates a Monster; the U.S. Arms Saddam,
This review is from: Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally Armed Iraq (Hardcover)
An appropriate metaphor. But in defense of Dr. Frankenstein - he was attempting to advance science and did not know that his experiment would produce the abominable creature that resulted. When the U.S. government clandestinely - with junior partners Briton and Italy and bit players, France, Germany, and Japan - provided Saddam Hussein with sophisticated military high tech weapons and biological and chemical warfare items it was well aware of what a despicable tyrant he was."Spider's Web" exposes a deplorable sub rosa world that was created in order to supply Saddam Hussein armaments during the Iran-Iraq war. Presidents Reagan and Bush pursued policies in direct contravention of existing law and of their own public statements. It was no secret that Saddam was a despicable character, who--among innumerable criminal acts--was not averse to murdering his own people--the Kurds, with poison gas. War had erupted between Iran and the Iraq, two countries both considered enemies of the US. Iran having overthrown the Shah and in the process humiliated the U.S. was judged to be the greater evil. Accordingly-while contending that it was neutral-the U.S. tilted to Iraq and Saddam. William Casey, head of the CIA at the time, was the strongest proponent of assistance to Saddam. He did not just tilt but in the vernacular "gave away the store". In Europe, Margaret Thatcher was a strong advocate for strengthening Iraq, as was the Italian government. Other governments, namely France, Germany and Japan, did not want to miss out on good commercial possibilities and joined in. Some also sold to the Iranians. All except the U.S. and England dropped out when Iraq did not pay its bills. Many in the White House and in the State, Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and Agriculture Departments were shocked and firmly opposed to this policy. But in both the Reagan and Bush administrations a green light for Saddam's purchases permitted him to create a formidable high-tech military machine. Sales of almost any items were permitted including components for atomic, biological, and chemical weapons. There were even instances where the CIA would purchase Russian equipment in the Eastern European black market to service his existing Russian equipment! All of these activities were in direct violation of existing laws and regulations relating to the transfer of military equipment. Various subterfuges were developed such as sales to Saudi Arabia and Jordan. These countries then transferred what they received to Iraq. To pay for this equipment Iraq obtained loans guaranteed by the federal government. What was unique about the loans is that they were arranged by the Agriculture Department. Iraq was buying American food, then reselling it at a profit, and using the proceeds to purchase armaments. Numerous ordinary individuals who happened to be in the right place at the right time (or perhaps in the wrong place at the right time) were drawn into the periphery of this nefarious operation. A salesman who spoke Arabic and worked for a supplier; a trucker who hauled British supplies to Europe and the Middle East; a banker at an Atlanta bank that processed all the loans. Each profited from the arrangements but all eventually grew wary of the operation and eventually suffered for their involvement. President Bush and James Baker were actively pushing their pro-Iraq policy, in the summer of 1989, when these undercover operations began to unravel. Two employees at the Atlanta bank reported some of the suspicious activities that had occurred there prompting the U.S. attorney in Atlanta to investigate. When Saddam invaded Kuwait the policy was suddenly reversed. Saddam became "Hitler"; and the White House now embarked upon a cover up-but too late-the clandestine operations were leaking out. Henry Gonzalez, head of the House Banking Committee, pressed for public hearings. The Justice Department objected-the Atlanta investigation would be jeopardized-sensitive national security concerns. The Commerce Department's top export official was fired when he appeared before the committee and told the truth. An independent counsel friendly to the administration was hired whose findings provided a whitewash of the affair. But loose ends still remained. The government tried to resolve the Atlanta case by making the bank manager the fall guy for the entire operation. So many peculiarities had occurred in the pretrial and Congressional hearings that Judge Marvin Shoob in an extraordinary ruling blasted the government's handling of the case. The book provides ample notes of sources to support the statements. In addition there are three appendices of actual relevant documents. What conclusions can we draw. Two presidents knowingly violated their oath of office. They defied critically important laws dealing with the national defense of the country. They armed, with the most sophisticated weapons, a rogue state, a potential enemy, a country that did in fact become an enemy and has been embargoed in order to remove those armaments. It is unfortunate that a scandal of such monumental proportions did not get proper news coverage. The cover up was not 100 per cent effective. But the news media which continually exploits an O. J., a Princess Diana, or an Elian story for days on end on the front page or as the lead item on television and radio gives this major scandal scant coverage. O where o where has our news media gone, o where o where can it be!
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Fooling America II" Investigative writing at its very best.,
This review is from: Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally Armed Iraq (Hardcover)
This is a very important book which uncovers and describes in meticulous and uncompromising detail how the Republican administration, together with William Casey's CIA, secretly armed Saddam Hussein with atomic, chemical and nerve agents breaking domestic and international law and then lying about these clandestine activities to the American people.
Spider's Web is an outstanding book and one which George Bush Sr might want to read to his "Fortunate Son" at bedtime. This just might help the current President gain a clearer understanding and deeper perspective of the historical and illegal trading relationship which created Saddam's huge war machine at a time when he was George Shultz and George Bush Sr's close friend in the Middle East. Why does the American Mainstream Media fail to hold US politicians to account on their past illegal dealings with foreign dictators which Washington helped to create? Maybe they lack information, confidence or courage? Or maybe some American journalists just don't care what's done in America's name by the White House? But the buck for Saddam's creation and arming stops in Washington D.C. ...and at a desk in the Oval Office which was once chaired by Ronald Regan and George Bush Sr. Read this book.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perhaps more timely now than when it was published!,
By
This review is from: Spider's Web: The Secret History of How the White House Illegally Armed Iraq (Hardcover)
Quite simply, this is the book to read to begin your research on how the US policy towards Iraq has brought about so much conflict, strife and confusion.
As offered with plain and clear irrefutable evidence, including copies of actual government memos, this book shows how many US politicians (many of them Republicans in the current Bush administration!) assisted Saddam up until his invasion of Kuwait in 1990. This was no mere minor fling. The US government was in bed with Saddam and the Ba'ath Party since the very beginning when they (the party) overthrew the nationalist government with assistance of the CIA. At the time our government provided hit lists to the Ba'athists. One of the hit-men who received those lists was none other than Saddam Hussein. And it off it went . . . After this book I highly recommend Said Aburish's "Saddam Hussein: The Politics of Revenge" which exposes further Saddam's brutalities and the complicity of the US government and how they helped him rise to power and stay there. From there readers should check out "George Bush's War" by Jean Edward Smith which shows, again with factual concrete evidence, how the US once again coddled Saddam right up until 24 hours after the invasion of Kuwait and then did a massive switcheroo and altered US foreign policy by _finally_ opposing Saddam and his brutal regime. Add it all up, beginning with this book, and you have a much clearer picture as to why many people across the globe, especially Arabs and Muslims, are skeptical of US motivations in Iraq today.
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