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Saddam meets with founder of Ba'athist thought, Michael Aflaq, in 1988

The Saddam Files

Records from Saddam Hussein’s regime released by the Conflict Records Research Center. The collection contains a wide range of Iraqi government files including transcripts of high-level meetings, speeches by Saddam and senior officials, correspondence between ministries, and records of the Presidential Diwan. The core of the collection was donated to the History and Public Policy Program by Steve Coll in 2023-24.

Saddam meets with founder of Ba'athist thought, Michael Aflaq, in 1988

Popular Documents

September 16, 1980

Saddam Hussein and His Advisers Discussing Iraq's Decision to Go to War with Iran

Transcript of a meeting between Saddam Hussein, the National Command and the Revolutionary Command Council discussing the military situation during the Iran-Iraq War, mainly regarding the disputed territory along the Shatt Al-'Arab river.

March 1, 1987

Saddam and His Advisers Discussing the Importance of Morale, Mobilizing Popular Support, and Targeting Iranian Cities

Transcript of a meeting between Saddam Hussein and other unidentified Iraqi Ba'ath party members. The meeting specifically discussed raising morale and mobilizing popular support--including how to discourage retreats from the front. Also includes discussion of chemical weapons.

November 1979

Saddam and His Inner Circle Discussing Relations with Various Arab States, Russia, China, and the United States

Transcript of a meeting between President Saddam Hussein amd Iraqi officials, taking place sometime between 4-20 November 1979. Saddam discusses relations with Europe, Russia, China, the Gulf countries, and the United States. Iraqi officials criticize Libya and Syria for their support to Iran. Another official criticizes the Egyptian President Anwar Al-Sadat for his attitudes in making peace agreement with Israel. Saddam accuses the Americans of playing a central role in overthrowing the Shah of Iran.

February 20, 1979

Saddam and High-Ranking Officials Discussing Khomeini, the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict, the Potential for Kurdish Unrest, and the Iranian Economy

Transcript of a meeting between Saddam and some Iraqi diplomatic personnel dated 20 February 1979. The meeting's main issue was Iran and Khomeini. One of the attendants asked Saddam if there is any possibility of turbulence in Iranian Kurdistan due to the internal chaos of the Iranian government. And if so, how would it affect Iraqi Kurdistan. They talked about the Iranian economy and the Iranian army. They said that the Iranian air force contains mostly American jets and it was built on American experience. Secondly they had a discussion about Eritrea and the diplomatic relationship between Iraq and Eritrea.

July 24, 1986

Saddam Hussein and Ba'ath Party Members Discussing the Status of the Party in the Arab World and Potential Cooperation with the Muslim Brotherhood

This file contains a meeting between Saddam and the members of the Ba'ath Party in all the Arab countries. Saddam talked about the role of the Ba'ath Party in controlling the Islamic current in the whole Islamic world and the Arab countries. He said that it isn't a profitable trend to contend with these currents, but rather to negotiate with them and try to persuade them that it is inevitable and better to separate between religious thought and command. He talked about the current of the Muslim Brotherhood movement. He stressed that this movement must be exploited to be an ally rather than an enemy. This movement and others similar to it must be persuaded to work with the Ba'ath Party and not against it.