Saddam Hussein: Rise and Fall of a Dictator

Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq for 24 year, beginning in 1979, and is well-known for his dictatorial rule and subsequent capture and execution. He proved himself a ruthless politician and rose to power as part of a coup, and as the nation's leader, he did much to improve Iraq's economy, education, health-care, and industry, particular in the area of oil. However, he was largely condemned in the Western Hemisphere for his brutality, and is thought to have caused over 250,000 deaths.

He was born in the town of Al-Awja on April 28, 1937, to a family of shepherds. He lived under the guidance of his uncle in his early years after fleeing from his harsh stepfather. He studied at an Iraqi law school but dropped out at the age of 20 to join a revolutionary political party. As a member of this Ba'ath party, he helped overthrow the country's ruler in a military coup. Eventually, the Ba'ath party came to control the government, and Saddam gained power steadily, first as the deputy chairman of the council, then as the party's clear moving force. He became the president of Iraq on July 17, 1979.

Saddam solidified his power through various means. Iraq had always been split into countless factions, which was a major cause of tension between groups like the Sunni and Shi'ite. He moved up the government ranks by working on ways to strengthen the unity of his party and expand its influence, while addressing the country's major domestic problems. In addition, he not only improved living standards, but also actively repressed rising factions. He dominated the oil industry, but also diversified the Iraqi economy through a campaign that helped the nation's energy industries and brought electricity to most of the country's cities.

However, he also showed a ruthless side. During an assembly meeting shortly after he became president, 68 names were read off of a list. These people were promptly arrested, tried, and found guilty of treason, with many of them being sentenced to death. By August of 1979, hundreds more of Saddam Hussein's political enemies had been executed. He also caused thousands of deaths by invading oil-rich regions of Iran and later Kuwait. This is what prompted a UN coalition to confront the Iraqi forces and drive them back in a crushing defeat.

Much like previous authoritarian dictators before him, Saddam Hussein developed a cult of personality that was constantly present throughout society. There were thousands of portraits and statues of him, and he was often shown in a positive light, portrayed wearing either Western suits or as a devout Muslim. He conducted two show elections, in which he received exactly 100% of the people's votes.

Saddam Hussein's fall began when the Bush administration began to suspect his ties to al Qaeda, headed by Osama bin Laden, and named Iraq a part of the "Axis of Evil." There were claims that the country was developing weapons of mass destruction, even though inspections by the UN gave little or no evidence. US forces toppled the Iraqi government regardless, and after an extensive search, Saddam Hussein was caught, tried for crimes against humanity, and sentenced to death. However, his legacy and influence lives on, in the form of both benefits and harm to his country.