HOW DID SADDAM HUSSEIN RISE TO POWER IN IRAQ?
The recent history of Iraq has been a bloody one. Since independence in 1932, there have been 6 revolutions or coup d'etat (only one of which was bloodless), the country has been involved in 4 conflicts that cost the lives of thousands of Iraqis and since 2006 has been involved in a brutal civil war. Currently, the extremist Islamist group ISIS (The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) controls large parts of Western and Northern Iraq operating a savage regime of executions, beheadings and crucifixion of innocent civilians.
Saddam Hussein rose to power because he was a ruthless strongman who did not hesitate to remove any opposition to his rule. He was born in 1937, 5 years after the Kingdom of Iraq was given independence by Britain.
He took part in a failed rebellion against King Faisal of Iraq in 1956 but two years later, Faisal was assassinated by a group of Army officers who seized power and abolished the monarchy.
Saddam then attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister of Iraq, Abd-al Karim Qasim in 1959. When this failed, he fled to Egypt.
Qasim was indeed removed from power and killed in 1963 by his deputy, Abdul Salam Arif, who was assisted by General Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr of the Ba'ath Party.
Months later, Arif removed al-Bakr and the Ba'athists from government. Saddam, who had returned from Egypt following the murder of Qasim, was placed in jail.
Arif died in 1966 and was replaced by his brother and in 1967 Saddam escaped from jail.
In 1968, Al-Bakr and Saddam led a bloodless coup and seized power.
By 1979, an increasingly frail Al-Bakr moved aside for Saddam, who immediately purged the Ba'ath Party of any suspected opponents.
As one exiled former Iraqi diplomat said of Saddam: "[He was] a dictator who is ready to sacrifice his country, just so long as he can remain on his throne in Baghdad."
Saddam Hussein rose to power because he was a ruthless strongman who did not hesitate to remove any opposition to his rule. He was born in 1937, 5 years after the Kingdom of Iraq was given independence by Britain.
He took part in a failed rebellion against King Faisal of Iraq in 1956 but two years later, Faisal was assassinated by a group of Army officers who seized power and abolished the monarchy.
Saddam then attempted to assassinate the Prime Minister of Iraq, Abd-al Karim Qasim in 1959. When this failed, he fled to Egypt.
Qasim was indeed removed from power and killed in 1963 by his deputy, Abdul Salam Arif, who was assisted by General Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr of the Ba'ath Party.
Months later, Arif removed al-Bakr and the Ba'athists from government. Saddam, who had returned from Egypt following the murder of Qasim, was placed in jail.
Arif died in 1966 and was replaced by his brother and in 1967 Saddam escaped from jail.
In 1968, Al-Bakr and Saddam led a bloodless coup and seized power.
By 1979, an increasingly frail Al-Bakr moved aside for Saddam, who immediately purged the Ba'ath Party of any suspected opponents.
As one exiled former Iraqi diplomat said of Saddam: "[He was] a dictator who is ready to sacrifice his country, just so long as he can remain on his throne in Baghdad."
The period between 1968 and 1979 was crucial in terms of Saddam's rise to power. He proved himself to be a cunning and ruthless politician who emerged as the next Iraqi strongman, capable of holding all the different factions in the country together. As Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC- the most important decision making body in Iraq) he was the second most important politician after al-Bakr.
His relationship with al-Bakr was key as both men acted as equals rather than President and Deputy. His position on the RCC was also vital, as he was in charge of the Iraqi security forces. With this power, he was able to investigate and eliminate rivals (often the victims of fabricate plots and conspiracies). He was also able to appoint his supporters into important positions of power; He did all this by keeping a low profile and never drawing much attention to himself or al-Bakr.
He was proving very good at handling foreign and domestic policy issues. In 1972, he negotiated a peace treaty with the USSR, ensuring a superpower ally. The nationalization of the Iraqi oil industry created revenues which he directed towards education and healthcare. This made him increasingly popular with ordinary Iraqis, particularly in the countryside, where he was able to build a large support base.
By 1979, he was able to force aside an increasingly frail al-Bakr and take power for himself. His first act was to purge the Ba'athist party of potential rivals, particularly Abdul Hussein Hashhadi, the Secretary-General of the RCC who had questioned Saddam's rise to power. In total, 66 party officials were accused of plotting against the government of Iraq. 22 were executed and 33 imprisoned (after lengthy torture). On 11 were released (also after lengthy torture) as a warning to others. This event was televised and can be viewed below:
His relationship with al-Bakr was key as both men acted as equals rather than President and Deputy. His position on the RCC was also vital, as he was in charge of the Iraqi security forces. With this power, he was able to investigate and eliminate rivals (often the victims of fabricate plots and conspiracies). He was also able to appoint his supporters into important positions of power; He did all this by keeping a low profile and never drawing much attention to himself or al-Bakr.
He was proving very good at handling foreign and domestic policy issues. In 1972, he negotiated a peace treaty with the USSR, ensuring a superpower ally. The nationalization of the Iraqi oil industry created revenues which he directed towards education and healthcare. This made him increasingly popular with ordinary Iraqis, particularly in the countryside, where he was able to build a large support base.
By 1979, he was able to force aside an increasingly frail al-Bakr and take power for himself. His first act was to purge the Ba'athist party of potential rivals, particularly Abdul Hussein Hashhadi, the Secretary-General of the RCC who had questioned Saddam's rise to power. In total, 66 party officials were accused of plotting against the government of Iraq. 22 were executed and 33 imprisoned (after lengthy torture). On 11 were released (also after lengthy torture) as a warning to others. This event was televised and can be viewed below:
