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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An amazing story, 4 Jan 2002
This book tells of an amazing journey by a an insider to Saddam's regime from his chief nuclear weapons developer to defector. What I found amazing about this book was the simple way in which it's told. Before reading, I was a little cynical about this book and feared that it would be exagerated and biased. However, to my delight the tone of the book is honest, even, and fair in my opinion. I quickly grew to admire the author, who not only explains amazing events within the nuclear program in Iraq, but also explains from his experience the world of intelligence, foreign policy, science, and state corruption. As an American, I could only smile quietly and shake my head as the author relates some facts about the Gulf War syndrome, Saddam's silence about it's nature, and the U.S. indifference and almost denial of it. It's a sad footnote to the U.S. soldiers during the war, but the saddest I think is that in this war 50,000 Kurdish people were killed in a failed revolt, which the U.S. encouraged but did not support. Sounds very similar to other events in U.S. history. But Dr. Hamza never writes in an aggressive or accusing tone towards U.S. and western policy. Therefore, I was never cynical towards the author during the entire book. The thrust of this book is Saddam's nuclear program, the going-ons within his regime. I found it incredible, horrifying, and tragic. I ended this book feeling great respect for the author and his family, who faced what had to be impossible odds. And also great sorrow for the people in Iraq who are suffering greatly by not only Saddam, but what seems to be indifference by the international community.
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