House of Saddam

Baghdad, 1979. Deputy President Saddam and his allies intimidate President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr into resigning. Convening his first Ba'ath party congress, the new president exposes 'detractors,' who are forced to confess to an attempted coup.

1988. Though Iraq is on the brink of bankruptcy, Baghdad is jubilant in victory after the war with Iran. As fractures are revealed in Saddam's household, Kuwait drives Iraq toward war--and Saddam leads his army into 'the mother of all battles.'

May 1995. Iraq is crippled by UN sanctions for refusing to comply with weapons inspections. When inspectors are finally admitted, a cat-and-mouse game begins.

March 2003. As U.S. forces seize control of Iraq, Saddam instructs most of his family to flee and prepares to hide himself.