HUSSEIN, SADDAM

Hussein, Saddam: translation

(1937-2006)

Long the strong man in Baghdad, Saddam Hussein officially became president ofIraqon 16 July 1979, when he succeeded Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr. He reached this position by employing ruthless, Stalin-like tactics against his associates in theBaath Partyand Iraq. Later, of course, he demonstrated these characteristics against the Kurds and others when he attackedIranin 1980 and Kuwait in 1990.

At first, however, Saddam Hussein seemed more reasonable toward the Kurds by negotiating theMarch(1970)ManifestowithMulla Mustafa Barzani.Saddam Hussein's main purpose, however, was to secure his own power base. He was also alarmed by the Iraqi Kurds' international connections, which seemed to threaten Iraq's territorial integrity. In 1975, Saddam Hussein negotiated theAlgiers Agreementwith Iran that allowed Iraq to launch a successful assault against the Kurds. During theIran-Iraq Warof the 1980s, Saddam Hussein usedchemical weaponsand thegenocidal Anfalcampaign in attempts to punish and defeat the Kurds for their support of Iran.

Because of his egregioushuman rightsabuses perpetuated against the Kurds, many Kurds (especially those living in Iraq) considered Saddam Hussein to be their most deadly enemy. Therefore, most Iraqi Kurds gave strong support to theUnited Stateswhen it removed Saddam Hussein from power on 9 April 2003 in the secondGulf War. Saddam Hussein was eventually captured on 13 December 2003, tried, and convicted of crimes against humanity over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shiite town of Dujail following an assassination attempt against him in 1982. He was hanged on 30 December 2006.