Introduction: The Shocking Double Game
In December 1983, Donald Rumsfeld, then a special envoy for President Ronald Reagan, shook hands with Saddam Hussein in Baghdad. Smiling for the cameras, the meeting symbolized a warm U.S.-Iraqi partnership. Just two decades later, the same Saddam Hussein would be branded a “new Hitler” by the Bush administration, hunted down, and executed.
What changed?
The truth is darker than most Americans realize. Throughout the 1980s, the U.S. actively supported Saddam’s regime—providing weapons, intelligence, and even chemical weapon precursors—only to later vilify him when he was no longer useful. This article exposes:
- How the Reagan administration armed Saddam during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
- The CIA’s role in enabling Saddam’s worst atrocities
- Why the U.S. turned on Saddam after the Cold War ended
- The hypocrisy of the 2003 Iraq War’s justification
Using declassified documents, whistleblower testimonies, and investigative reports, we reveal how America helped build Saddam’s war machine—before destroying him.
TL;DR – Key Takeaways
✅ The U.S. backed Saddam Hussein as a counterbalance to Iran’s Islamic Revolution
✅ Reagan officials authorized arms sales, intelligence sharing, and chemical weapon precursors
✅ Donald Rumsfeld met Saddam in 1983, securing oil and military cooperation
✅ America ignored Saddam’s use of chemical weapons against Iranians and Kurds
✅ After the Cold War, Saddam became expendable—leading to the Gulf War and 2003 invasion
1. Background: Why Did the U.S. Support Saddam Hussein?
The Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988)
When Saddam invaded Iran in 1980, the U.S. saw an opportunity. Iran’s Islamic Revolution had overthrown the pro-American Shah in 1979, and Washington feared Soviet influence in the region.
Key U.S. Motives:
- Contain Iran’s Revolution – Preventing the spread of Islamist ideology
- Cold War Strategy – Iraq was a secular counterweight to Iran’s theocracy
- Oil Interests – Protecting Gulf oil supplies from Iranian disruption
Realpolitik Over Morality
Despite Saddam’s brutal record—including purges, torture, and early chemical weapons use—the Reagan administration chose to support him.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
—U.S. Cold War policy in the Middle East
2. How the U.S. Armed Saddam Hussein
Direct Arms Sales & Military Aid
- Helicopters & Aircraft: The U.S. approved sales of Bell helicopters, later used in chemical attacks
- Intelligence Sharing: The CIA provided satellite imagery to help Iraq target Iranian forces
- “Dual-Use” Exports: American companies sold chemical precursors used for mustard gas and nerve agents
The Rumsfeld-Saddam Meeting (1983)
In December 1983, Donald Rumsfeld traveled to Baghdad to strengthen ties. Declassified documents show:
- Oil Pipeline Deal: Discussions on a U.S.-backed pipeline through Jordan
- Military Cooperation: U.S. willingness to support Iraq’s war effort
“Rumsfeld assured Saddam that the U.S. wanted to improve relations.”
—National Security Archive memo
Turning a Blind Eye to Chemical Weapons
In 1988, Saddam gassed Kurdish civilians in Halabja, killing 5,000. The U.S. response?
- Blamed Iran initially (false CIA assessment)
- Continued supporting Iraq despite evidence of Saddam’s culpability
3. Key Enablers: Reagan, Rumsfeld & the CIA
Reagan’s “Tilt Toward Iraq”
The Reagan administration secretly authorized:
- Agricultural Loans (Iraqgate Scandal): Billions in loans diverted to weapons purchases
- Biological Exports: U.S. firms sent anthrax and botulinum strains to Iraq
CIA’s Role in the Iran-Iraq War
- Satellite Intel for Iraq: Helped Saddam’s forces in battles
- Ignored War Crimes: Overlooked chemical attacks to maintain the alliance
4. The Betrayal: How Saddam Became the Enemy
The Gulf War (1990-1991)
When Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990, the U.S. suddenly reversed course:
- No Longer Useful: With the Cold War over, Saddam was expendable
- Oil Threat: Kuwait’s invasion endangered Saudi oil fields
The 2003 Iraq War: Rewriting History
The Bush administration:
- Fabricated WMD claims (despite earlier U.S. complicity in Saddam’s chemical program)
- Erased 1980s support from public memory
5. Corporate Complicity: U.S. Companies Profiting from Saddam’s Regime
While the U.S. government publicly condemned chemical weapons, American corporations were actively supplying Saddam’s war machine:
Chemical Weapons Suppliers
- Alcolac International – Sold thiodiglycol (mustard gas precursor) to Iraq via third parties
- Phillips Petroleum – Provided phosphorous compounds used in nerve agents
- Union Carbide – Exported pesticides later weaponized by Iraq
“At least 150 U.S. firms legally shipped materials to Iraq that could be used for chemical and biological weapons.”
—Senate Banking Committee Report (1994)
The “Iraqgate” Scandal
In the late 1980s, the U.S. Department of Agriculture guaranteed $5 billion in loans to Iraq—ostensibly for food imports. Investigations later revealed:
- Funds were diverted to buy weapons
- Bush Sr. administration blocked investigations into the scandal
6. The Halabja Massacre: How the U.S. Covered for Saddam
On March 16, 1988, Saddam’s forces dropped mustard gas and sarin on Halabja, killing 5,000 Kurdish civilians. The U.S. response was telling:
Initial Blame on Iran
- CIA falsely claimed Iran might have carried out the attack
- State Department officials privately knew Iraq was responsible but remained silent
Continued Support After Halabja
Despite the massacre:
- U.S. arms shipments continued until 1990
- Reagan vetoed sanctions that would punish Iraq for chemical weapons use
“The U.S. didn’t just turn a blind eye—it actively suppressed evidence of Saddam’s crimes.”
—Joost Hiltermann, author of A Poisonous Affair
7. From Ally to Target: The Gulf War Betrayal
Why Did the U.S. Turn on Saddam?
- Kuwait Invasion (1990) – Threatened Saudi oil fields
- End of Cold War – Saddam was no longer needed to counter Iran
- New World Order – Bush Sr. sought to demonstrate U.S. dominance post-USSR
Rewriting History
By 1991, the U.S. media portrayed Saddam as:
- “The Butcher of Baghdad” (ignoring past U.S. support)
- A Hitler-like figure (despite earlier CIA collaboration)
8. The 2003 Iraq War: The Ultimate Hypocrisy
The Bush administration’s justification for invading Iraq included:
- “Saddam has WMDs!” (Despite U.S. role in supplying precursors)
- “He’s a threat to America!” (After decades of arming him)
Declassified Documents Confirm the Deception
- 2002 Downing Street Memo – Revealed intelligence was “fixed” to justify war
- Post-War Inspections – Found no active WMD programs
9. Lasting Consequences: How Arming Saddam Backfired
Strengthened Saddam’s Grip
- U.S. weapons helped him crush rebellions (e.g., 1991 Shiite uprising)
Fueled Anti-American Extremism
- Al-Qaeda’s Rise – Bin Laden cited U.S. hypocrisy in Iraq as a recruitment tool
- ISIS Emergence – Power vacuum post-2003 invasion led to new terror groups
10. Conclusion: A Pattern of Convenient Alliances
The U.S.-Saddam relationship follows a recurring pattern:
- Arm a dictator for short-term gains
- Ignore atrocities while he’s useful
- Destroy him when he’s no longer needed
From Nicaragua’s Contras to Afghanistan’s Mujahideen, this playbook has left chaos in its wake.
Was it worth it? The millions dead in Iraq suggest otherwise.
FAQ Section
1. Did the U.S. know Saddam was using chemical weapons?
Yes. Declassified CIA files show awareness as early as 1983.
2. Why did Rumsfeld meet Saddam in 1983?
To secure oil deals and military cooperation against Iran.
3. Was Saddam ever a “good dictator” to the U.S.?
Yes—until he invaded Kuwait. Then, he became a villain.
Final Thoughts: A Lesson in Realpolitik
The U.S. support for Saddam Hussein exposes a brutal truth: geopolitics often trumps morality. America armed a dictator, ignored his crimes, and then destroyed him when convenient.
Was this strategy justified? Or a catastrophic betrayal? Share your views below.
Articles / Reports
- **National Security Archive: “Rumsfeld–Saddam Memos”**
Detailed declassified memos showing Rumsfeld’s meetings with Saddam Hussein.
🔗 https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/ - **“A Faustian Bargain” by Bruce Jentleson**
Analysis of U.S. foreign policy compromises in the post-Cold War era.
🔗 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1475-4967.2008.00343.x - **“The Death Lobby” by Kenneth Timmerman**
Investigative book exposing Western arms transfers to Iraq before the Gulf War.
🔗 https://archive.org/details/deathlobbyhowwes0000timm
