153. The Road to Iraq: Weapons of Mass Destruction (Ep 1)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.4 • 2K Ratings

🗓️ 3 May 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How did Saddam Hussein become one of history’s most notorious dictators? How did the Iran-Iraq war begin? And what really happened to Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction? Listen as David and Gordon begin their 6-part series on one of history’s biggest intelligence failures: Iraq WMD. ------------------- THE REST IS CLASSIFIED LIVE 2026 at The Rest Is Fest: Buy your tickets ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to see David and Gordon live on stage at London’s Southbank Centre on 4 September: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-rest-is-classified-live/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Sign-up for our free newsletter where producer Becki takes you behind the scenes of the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign⁠-up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Join the Declassified Club to go deeper into the world of espionage with exclusive Q&As, interviews with top intelligence insiders, regular livestreams, ad-free listening, early access to episodes and live show tickets, and weekly deep dives into original spy stories. Members also get curated reading lists, special book discounts, prize draws, and access to our private chat community. Just go to ⁠⁠therestisclassified.com⁠ or join on Apple Podcasts. ------------------- Get a 10% discount on business PCs, printers and accessories using the code TRIC10. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://HP.com/CLASSIFIED⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more information. T&C's apply. ------------------- Email: ⁠⁠therestisclassified@goalhanger.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@restisclassified⁠ Video Editor: Vasco Andrade Social Producer: Emma Jackson Assistant Producer: Alfie Rowe Producer: Becki Hills Head of History: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series, first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books, join the Declassified Club at the Rest is Classified.com.
0:17.5	A war in the Middle East over weapons of mass destruction.
0:21.4	But what is the truth behind the Iraq war?
0:24.4	I don't remember an analytic failure in the history of CIA that was littered with so many
0:32.1	analytic biases as Iraq WMD.
0:35.0	On Tuesday night, I gave the order for British forces to take part in military action in Iraq.
0:40.2	Their mission, to remove Saddam Hussein from power
0:43.0	and disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction.
0:46.7	Occasionally, I do think, you know,
0:48.0	did we get played a bit by the Americans?
0:51.0	He's relying on what they are told.
0:53.8	The spies were the ones who got it wrong, rather than the politicians lying about it.
0:58.0	I do see as an intelligence failure.
1:00.0	If you look at Iraq now, I would argue strongly that there was a justification for the company.
1:06.0	Do you have this war in Iran without the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
1:11.6	And it was a complete disaster.
1:15.6	This episode is brought to you by HP.
1:26.6	In intelligence work, it's rarely the obvious problem that causes failure.
1:31.4	It's the overlooked detail or the flaw nobody quite solved.
1:35.4	The kind of vulnerability, intelligence services, look for.
1:38.8	And running a business is the same, especially when you're building or growing a team.
1:43.3	It's the risks you can't see or
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