Saddam's Secrets: How an Iraqi General Defied and Survived Saddam Hussein

by Georges Hormuz Sada

Georges Sada was one of Saddam's top generals and foremost military advisors. A truth-teller in a government that made the truth dangerous. A devout Christian in a Muslim country. And a man who would stand up for what was right?even at the risk of his own life. In this eye-opening exposé, General Sada shares his bizarre yet amazing journey as an insider to one of history's most sinister regimes. He also, for the first time, reveals the disturbing truth about Saddam's plots to destroy Israel, hide weapons of mass destruction and overtake the Arab world. As an eye witness to history, Sada paints a painfully truthful picture of Hussein and his country that is at once personal and alarming, truthful and compelling, candid and sobering. It is a story guaranteed to send shock waves around the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, Biography, Military Fiction, Middle East, Christian

334 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadaam was an evil man. To be honest nothing that Sada reveals in this book was a surprise or shocker to me because I think the entire world now sees how evil this man really was. The massacres that were committed under his orders of his own people is sickening. It is so dis-heartening to know that there is still a lot of mass graves throughout Iraq that have yet to be discovered. Sada admits in the book that Sadaam did have weapons of mass destruction & nuclear weapons but hid them when American coalition forces went in to look for them under Bush's orders. I highly agree with what Sada said about Americans at the end of the book. He said that we can be too trusting. That because we are a nation that is only hundreds of years old instead of thousands, we see the world through the eyes of a child and want to believe in the innocence of people. But, you can't always be so trusting of other nations and people. There is evil in the world and we must recognize that we can't be friends with everyone. As sad as it might sound, I believe this to be a realistic point of view. The world is not all roses and butterflies but as someone once said "If the Devil is real and he exists, then I have no doubt that so does God and his Angels".

[Aravindh Sundaragopalan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read. In some places you can see the author gets a lot repetitive. This is true especially towards the end. Other than that i will recommend this book to somebody who is interested in Saddam himself, though i would have expected him to talk more about how he was raised, how he became what he is at a more personal level.

So there are really not many Saddam secrets in the book :), neverthless it is a good read !

[Mathew Smolinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author after a Q and A. Very nice guy. He signed my Kuwait Liberation Medal.
An Iragi General signing a Kuwaiti Medal given to an American military veteran.

[Courtney Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

General Sada has a very raw and unfiltered insider description of Iraqi during Saddam's reign of terror. It details with crystal clarity the sad and sickening detail how one man turned his own country's wealth and fortune into a machine to satisfy his own need for greed and power. It also describes what could have happened had he had not been stopped when he was. If you think you know why President George W. Bush insisted that the U.S. has to stop Saddam and you have not read this, think again. Some parts went in depth about military strategies and it was during those pages it did get a bit thick, yet he made up for that when he described the emotions of the moment, as well as his personal accounts. Very good read.

[Peter D'Souza · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting first-hand account of life inside Saddam's Iraq. The reign of terror as described by Gen. Sada is almost palpable. Although more autobiography than exposé, this book illuminates the power and authority structure in the Middle East that is virtually alien to the western world. A good and insightful book, required reading for anyone who wants to understand Iraq, Iran, Syria and the rest of the Middle East. Prescient for its time, this book will help the curious mind understand the personalities of the recent Arab Spring.

[Kalle Wescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read /Saddam's Secrets/, by Georges Hormuz Sada.

I've read a few books about Saddam Hussein, his body double, his sons, and his regime in Iraq over the past year+.

I think I commented in one review that I read partially to experience things I would not otherwise experience, understand, or learn about. Of course, in the Saddam category I would never want to be part of that world... but some of the relevant truthful depictions are so horrifying, it's hard to put the book down.

This is one that, if I wasn't so busy and also so tired last night, I would have had to read in one sitting. Gripping.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georges Sada is a top Iraqi Air Force pilot, also Christian and not involved in the politics of Iraq. Most of the book is the author bragging about his flying ability and his efforts for peace by giving his honest opinions to Saddam. Told one story of a brilliant neurologist that was overheard insulting Saddam in a restaurant. Saddam called him into a room, had his soldiers kick him to death and set forth a pack of dogs to eat the body while Saddam watched.
Also emphasized throughout the book that Saddam had WMD and hid them in Syria and around Iraq in schools, churches

[Stuart L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, General Sada has a vested interest in making himself look good, but pay attention to his details.
For the better part of two decades, the American people have been told that Iraq did NOT have WMDs. While it is true they did not have nuclear weapons, they had tons of gas and chemicals that could have wrought mass destruction of life. The WMDs were shipped to Syria before the UN inspectors arrived. That is confirmed by multiple sources, including General Sada in his own words in this book. I will believe firsthand accounts before I believe the American media.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly blunt

The author is a primary source for what happened throughout Saddam's time in power and doesn't try to sugar coat things. His sincerity, frank style, and honest assessment are refreshing after more than fourteen years of garbage from the MSM.

[Pete · Rating 1 out of 5]

Saddam was evil. Not sure why the author needed over 300 pages to make that point. Extremely redundant.

[Eric Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful story of an Iraqi Christian holding to his faith in a corrupt regime.

[Becky Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, very eye-opening, very true.

The author has opened to us the world of Iraq unlike any other writer out there. He takes you right into the middle of evil, yet God prevails …

[Jake Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more of an autobiography of Georges Sada than an expose about Saddam, especially now that we're 15 years since this book came out. At the time it might have been true to it's name but now, not so much.

I would still recommend this book to anyone looking for a decent account of working under Saddam Hussein and his son's. The author is a former pilot and air general from Iraq so expect that level of writing. Pretty good overall and really interesting when he gets into some of the crazier ideas Saddam had.

[Sharon Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

To understand another culture (if that is possible), one must learn from a member of that culture. General Sada, an Iraqi air force general in Saddam's Iraq, helps us understand this strange land and it's people. However, his most amazing feat is remaining true to his principles and the teachings of his parents in a country when both could have led to his death. General Sada rose to the second highest poistion in Saddam's Air Force but refused the top position because he would not renounce his Christian belief and would not join the Baath Party. His story of courage and love of God is inspriational.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, General Sada is a fascinating man. He always told Saddam the truth even when Saddam didn't want to hear it. Sada could have been killed by Saddam or one of his evil sons at anytime but he always stood his ground and spoke the truth. Sada gives lots of good insight into the why Iraq is the way it is today because of the legacy of Saddam. He explains what happened to Saddam's WMDs and how Saddam ruined Iraq and used it as his own personal playground and bank. Saddam could have avoided Operation Iraq Freedom by leaving Iraq and taking residence in Russia, India o the UAE but Saddam was not going to relinquish power.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned more about Gen. Sada (the author) than I did about Saddam. If you're looking to delve deeply into the madness of Saddam and his actions, this is not the book for you. Yes, you'll learn about his weapons programs, but that is a very small portion of the book. Mostly, you'll learn about what an awesome pilot Gen. Sada was and how he was so honest that Saddam couldn't help but come to him for advice. It seemed rather boastful to me.

[Phil Valentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for several reasons. First, Georges Sada was Saddam Hussein's #2 guy in his air force. He knows there were weapons of mass destruction and he knows what happened to them. This book came out in 2006. Flash forward to 2014 and ISIS stumbles across a cache of chemical weapons where? In Syria. Exactly where Sada said they were taken. It's probably the biggest story you never saw in the newspapers, but you can read all about it in this still-timely book.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The detailed title is "how an Iraqi General defied and survived Saddam Hussein". Georges Sada is an Assyrian Christian who had some success despite his refusal to join the Baath party. It is worth reading this insiders account. The only downsides are too much appreciation for George Bush and wondering what his opinions would be now a few more years into the conflict.

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recommend not reading this one. There are really no "secrets" in this book at all. Most of the content is discussion about the author's time spent in the Iraqi military. Although interesting, I expected different content based upon the book's title. The author writing styles are very disjointed as well. Overall, not very satisfying.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where are the WMD's?!" Georges Sada tells us, and he has the inside scoop as one of Saddam's former leading men. His is a story of faith, love of country, and survival in a hostile regime. One wonders why his story hasn't gotten out in the mainstream media...

[Aaron Werlty]

A very interesting inside look at the world of Saddam Hussien from someone who served under him, disagreed, and survived. It is worth it to note how he responds to the American Media's response to the war and his discussion of where a majority of the WMD went and how it got there.

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title is misleading. The book primarily discusses George Sada's life as a fighter pilot. There are only a couple chapters about Saddam and his WMDs. It was still a good book though, and his stories as a pilot were interesting.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different perspective on the Middle East and the country of Iraq. Changed my perspective of why we are there.

[Stefan Salonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Läsvärd, lite omständig. Men avslöjar mycket från insidan!

[Ismael Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. But instead of Saddam's Secrets it should have been called Sada's Story as it is more about General Sada than Saddam Hussein.

[Robb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly crap.