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American Experience

Saddam Hussein

President Bush was dissatisfied with Bin Laden’s escape and the collapse of the Taliban.

Aired 05/04/2020

American Experience

Saddam Hussein

Clip: Season 32 Episode 4 | 3m 49s

President Bush was dissatisfied with Bin Laden’s escape and the collapse of the Taliban.

Initially resistant to the neocons argument to invade Iraq right away, President Bush felt himself increasingly drawn to the idea. The reasons were not only political, they were personal. "Bush developed a sense that there was unfinished business from the first Persian Gulf War in the early 1990s, that leaving Saddam in power had been a mistake,” recalled journalist Barton Gellman.

Aired 05/04/2020

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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Chapter 1 | George W. Bush

Video has Closed Captions

Watch a preview of part one of George W. Bush. (10m)

Criticism and Hurricane Katrina

President Bush was criticized for his administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. (6m 11s)

Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

President Bush was shaken when torture was revealed at Abu Ghraib. (4m 55s)

Extended Trailer | George W. Bush| American Experience

The latest in our award-winning series of presidential biographies, George W. Bush. (2m 37s)

The Fighter Pilot

To avoid combat in Vietnam, George W. Bush joined the 147th Texas Air National Guard. (2m 36s)

Financial Crisis

President Bush confronted the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. (3m 50s)

Media Gaffes

President Bush shone when he met voters in person, but that was not the case on television (2m 7s)

Neocons and Moderates

President Bush assembled a team of rivals to form his cabinet. (3m 15s)

Occupying Iraq

Within weeks after the U.S. took Baghdad, Iraq ground to a halt and became a free-for-all. (3m 45s)

The Surge of Troops in Iraq

To sell the surge to America, President Bush took a rare step — admit his mistake. (3m 18s)

Trailer | George W. Bush| American Experience

The latest in our award-winning series of presidential biographies, George W. Bush. (30s)

The Weapons of Mass Destruction

Did the Bush administration mislead the public to go to war? (5m 21s)

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Corporate sponsorship for American Experience is provided by Liberty Mutual Insurance and Carlisle Companies. Major funding by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

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