Who was Saddam more concerned about: the U.S. or Iran?

[mediaman007]

So much has been made of Saddam's intent to get a hold of WMD. What drove this intent, the desire to harm the United States, or to compete against Iran?

This is never part of the discussion.

[No2W2004]

1. Neither

Saddam was more concerned with keeping his ass in power. He was busy keeping rivals from getting too popular in true Stalinist fashion by killing them.

That's why Saddam would never ever link up with bin-Laden or Al Queda.

[DODI]

2. I think Iran played the neo-cons like a fiddle.

Saddam had much more to fear from the Iranians than from us -- not only the threat of weapons but also theocracy coming over the border. I have heard reports that he was bluffing on the WMDs to try and scare Iran. I keep wondering what part Chalabi(sp) had in all of this. I think the Iranians used him to get the neo-cons to attack.

[knowbody0]

3. he was a wee poodle

surrounded by pitbulls

[madrchsod]

4. iran and israel

were his two enemies in the region...funny isn`t it, neither really gave a dam about saddam during the sanction years. saudi arabia signed several agreements with saddam before the war..hmmm seems they were not afraid of big bad saddam.......

[mediaman007]

5. Why was this not factored into the "attack decision?"

I guess that I can answer that myself. I just wanted someother people to ask the question.

Do you read these media people?

[H2O Man]

6. correct.

Saddam was vulnerable due to the "no fly zones." No question that Iran and Israel were two of his three major concerns. Also think in terms of the Kurds; Turkey also had an interest in the US invasion, due to the growing likelihood that the Kurdish population was going to create their own state. Consider that the neocons, as represented by Larry Franklin passing state secrets to the Israeli front group, are pushing for an expanded Israeli state (see "Imperial Hubris" by Anonymous, pgs 13-14)and a partnership with Turkey.

The invasion had nothing whatsoever to do with a threat to America from Iraqi WMDs.