Saddam Hussein: A Dictator Created and Deleted by America

 

Saddam Hussein: A Dictator Created and Deleted by America 

"From his story, we learn that a human being must remain human and should not try to act like God. Also, a person's greatest enemies do not fall from the sky; one raises them with the best food, finest clothes, deepest love and utmost respect." — Sahil Sharifdin Bhat 

Saddam Hussein was born in a small village in Iraq and lived a tough life as an orphan. He entered politics at a young age by joining the Ba'ath Party. Known for his courage and violence, he was chosen to assassinate the Iraqi Prime Minister when he was just 24 years old. The attempt failed and he fled to Egypt.

The CIA noticed his boldness and began preparing him as a future leader of Iraq. When the Ba'ath Party gained power, Saddam returned and became the second most powerful man in the country at only 30. He took control of Iraq’s oil and gas, which were once under British hands. After the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, oil prices rose sharply. Saddam used this money to build free schools and hospitals and to strengthen Iraq’s currency.

He gained more power by controlling the army and was influenced by the film ''The Godfather'', copying its style. Eventually, he forced the sitting President to resign and took the position himself. Just six days into his presidency, Saddam exposed a conspiracy against him and ordered the execution or imprisonment of 68 party members.

In 1979, he attacked Iran’s leader Ayatollah Khomeini with support from the US and Arab monarchs. The Iran-Iraq War lasted eight years. It caused huge destruction but brought no real victory to either country. China and Israel benefited by selling weapons to both sides. After the war, Saddam refused to pay back loans from Arab countries, especially Kuwait. In 1990, he invaded Kuwait and captured it in just two days.

This move proved to be his greatest mistake. The US had earlier given the impression it would not interfere, but it used the invasion as an excuse to build military bases in the region. The US-led forces attacked Iraq and liberated Kuwait within a month. Saddam responded by launching 40 missiles at Israel, which increased American hostility toward him.

Trying to win public support, Saddam promoted Islam and even claimed to have written the Quran using his own blood. However, US sanctions crushed Iraq’s economy and caused suffering for ordinary people. Later, his two sons-in-law, who were generals, defected and revealed Iraq’s secret plans to develop an atomic bomb. They were killed after they returned to Iraq.

After the 9/11 attacks, the US could not link Saddam to the event but falsely accused him of having chemical and nuclear weapons. Despite global protests, the US invaded Iraq in 2003 and took control quickly. Saddam and his sons went into hiding. American forces killed his sons and even his grandson in a gun battle.

Saddam was later found hiding in a tunnel. He was put on trial where he remained defiant, accusing the judges of working for the US. In 2006, he was sentenced to death and hanged. Saddam had wished to be shot like a soldier, but the execution was by hanging.

His fall did not bring peace to Iraq. Instead, the country faced more instability, with rising sectarian violence and new insurgent groups. The war removed Saddam but failed to bring the order and peace that the US had promised. 

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