Saddam's bomb - Shyam Bhatia

The authors reveal how Saddam Hussein ordered his scientists to develop a nuclear bomb that would make him the most powerful Arab ruler of modern times, forcing the West to think twice about going to war against him.A project known as "Petrochemical Three" was founded to implement Saddam's dream of transforming Iraq into the world's next great nuclear power. To achieve this he invested USD18 billion and employed over 20,000 scientists at 60 top-secret sites all across Iraq in the greatest sleight of hand the world has ever witnessed. His family were the only ones he trusted to run a worldwide network of covert businesses to buy the components of the bomb. They in turn embezzled millions and plotted against each other in a series of blood feuds.In October 1991 Saddam ordered a crash programme to design a bomb the size of a beach-ball that could easily be carried on a transporter to the outskirts of Kuwait City. His plan, the authors allege, was to detonate a nuclear bomb in Kuwait before the Allies could launch their war against him in Operation Desert Storm. He had no idea he was so close to the bomb, even though some who worked for him had warned the West that Saddam was at his mo