I have no idea on the whole red mercury affair. On the one hand, our nuclear scientists gave up on it and I have a hard time believing that Russia is more advanced than us. I believe Russia is more unethical but not more advanced. Don't get me wrong, I do not trust Russia/Putin at all and the bottom line is I don't have a clue about all this.
Also, if Iraq had red mercury weapons, obtained from Russia as stated in some articles, why didn't Saddam use them? Wouldn't he rather use them than end up in a whole in the ground after his sons were killed?