In a casual conversation about WMD with FBI Special Agent George Piro on June 11, 2004, Saddam “Hussein stated that he was more concerned about Iran discovering Iraq’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities than the repercussion of the United States for his refusal to allow UN inspectors back into Iraq. In his opinion, the UN inspectors would have directly identified to the Iranians where to inflict maximum damage to Iraq. …Hussein indicated that he was angered when the United States struck Iraq in [December] 1998. Hussein stated Iraq could have absorbed another United States strike for he viewed this as less of a threat than exposing themselves to Iran.”
– FBI, “Casual Conversation, June 11, 2004,” Saddam Hussein Talks to the FBI:, The National Security Archive, June 11, 2004