The Rise of
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein is
perhaps the most recognizable Leaders of Iraq to date. He has ruled
the country for decades. What is not so well know is how he got to
power in the first place. At college in Baghdad Hussein got involved
with the Baath party which was popular at the time and in 1956 he
played a role in an abortive coup attempt. Once the monarchy was
completely overthrown Saddam invented a plan to kill of the Prime
Minister, Abdel-Karim Qassem. But he was caught and fled the
country.
By 1963, with the
Baath party had control in Baghdad, Saddam Hussein returned home and
started trying to get a power position in the party. However this
didn’t work either as the Baath party was disbanded and he was
jailed, remaining there until the party returned to power in a coup
in July 1968. Saddam eventually succeeded in getting a position on
the ruling Revolutionary Command Council.
For years he was the power behind the sick president,
Ahmed Hassan Bakr. By the time of 1979, Saddam Hussein had finally
achieved his ambition of becoming head of state one day. The new
president started doing what he is now known for which was killing
all of his enemies and rivals to become the unquestioned leader of
Iraq. It was soon his desire to make Iraq the leader of the Middle
East by taking over Iran. However this cost his people dearly when
he attacked Iran, he found out the hard way that Iran was stronger
than he had thought. |
