Soussan’s journey begins in 1997, fresh out of Brown University, as he joins the UN’s biggest humanitarian operation, intended to alleviate civilian suffering in Iraq under international sanctions. What he finds, however, is a system riddled with incompetence, paranoia, and systematic corruption. As he navigates office politics and the opaque workings of the UN, Soussan uncovers how Saddam Hussein’s regime exploited the program for billions in illegal kickbacks and bribes, using oil allocations and overpaid contracts to buy international support and enrich his inner circle.

Soussan’s revelations—culminating in his 2004 public call for an independent investigation—sparked a global corruption probe that implicated hundreds of companies, UN officials, and even high-level diplomats. The book details how France, Russia, and other nations most opposed to sanctions and intervention were among the greatest beneficiaries of the scheme, while UN leadership, including Secretary-General Kofi Annan, failed to act decisively against the abuse.

Blending memoir and exposé, Soussan’s narrative is both a coming-of-age story and a searing indictment of the hypocrisy and self-deception that can pervade international institutions. With sharp observation and a touch of grim humor, he reveals the complex, often absurd reality behind the polished façade of diplomacy