Hussein’s paranoia won the day in Iraq

Interesting story in today’s NYT: during the Iraq invasion, Saddam Hussein was so concerned about a mass uprising that he crippled the defense against coalition forces. From “Even as U.S. invaded, Hussein saw Iraqi unrest as top threat”:

As American warplanes streaked overhead two weeks after the invasion began, Lt. Gen. Raad Majid al-Hamdani drove to Baghdad for a crucial meeting with Iraqi leaders. He pleaded for reinforcements to stiffen the capital's defenses and permission to blow up the Euphrates River bridge south of the city to block the American advance.

But Saddam Hussein and his small circle of aides had their own ideas of how to fight the war. Convinced that the main danger to his government came from within, Mr. Hussein had sought to keep Iraq's bridges intact so he could rush troops south if the Shiites got out of line.

Saddam also micromanaged the war, held back information, and put a drunk general in charge of the Republican Guard because he was considered loyal. Boy, for a guy who was “re-elected” President with 100% of the vote in Iraq, you’d think he’d have a little more faith in his people.