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_ SECRETS/X1_ U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation In Reply, Please Refer to Baghdad Operations Center File No. March 3, 2004 DECLASSIFIED BY uc/baw 60324 ON 05-20-2009 Interview Session Number: 11 Interview Conducted by: SSA_George L. Piro bE SSA pic Arabic/English Translation: 8) Saddam Hussein (High Value Detainee #1) was interviewed March 3, 2004 at a military detention facility at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), Baghdad, Iraq. Hussein provided the following information: SL Prior to the start of interview, Hussein was informed this session would be a continuation of the previous discussions regarding Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. <1) Hussein stated that he devised the plan for the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Because the geography of Kuwait is essentially open land, neither specific tactical planning nor special assets was needed to effect the operation. Any person with basic military knowledge could have put together an effective invasion plan. The invasion of Kuwait was accomplished within two and a half hours, equivalent to that previously estimated. Hussein stated it should have taken no more than one hour. He believes it should have occurred more quickly than originally estimated due to support for the invasion from the Kuwaiti people. Hussein reiterated a previous statement to the interviewers that Iraq was asked by the Kuwaiti people to invade their country in order to remove the Kuwaiti leadership. When asked to clarify how the Kuwaiti citizens communicated their desires to the Iraqi government prior to the invasion, Hussein stated some, not all, Kuwaitis felt this way. He added, "We felt they were asking." HR Regarding the assault on the coastal city of Khafji and who designed this attack, Hussein stated, "Me." He added that he would not shift the blame to his friends. Hussein stated that military planning was easy after eight years of war with Iran from 1980 to 1988. Any military operation requires , SECRET//X1 This document contains neither recommendatiohs nor conclusiéns of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. f “aN