Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, the famed president of Iraq, was captured by the United States military in December of 2002. He was in an underground bunker, alone. he was hung on December 30, 2006 by his own Iraqi people who found him guilty of murdering and abusing his own citizens.

Saddam Hussein was the dictator of Iraq from July 16, 1979 until April 9, 2003. His title was officially "President of Iraq."

He was a member of the Ba'ath Party. This was a revolutionary type liberal political party. After becoming the president, Hussein invaded Iran in 1980 and ran a long war with the Iranians until 1988.

Then he turned his attention to Kuwait. He invaded the sovereign nation of Kuwait in 1990, causing the Persian Gulf War. This war was short and ended in 1991. (I was there and when I got home in April, my wife presented me with a 3 month old son at the airport!)

Saddam Hussein was born in Tikrit, Iraq. His first name means "one who confronts." His father ran off six months before he was born. Shortly after his birth, his mother handed him over to an uncle to live until he turned three.

This was due to his older brother dying of cancer at the age of 13 shortly after Saddam made his grand entrance into the world.

Then his mother remarried and the little dictator rejoined her. Both he and his mother were mistreated by his stepfather. They gave him 3 younger brothers.

When Saddam was ten, he ran away to live again in Baghdad with the same uncle who took care of him as a baby.

Saddam Hussein went to law school for three years and at the age of twenty, he became a member of the Ba'ath Party in 1957. His uncle supported this decision. Saddam earned a living by teaching at a secondary school. It should be pointed out that his father-in-law was a Sunni.

In 1976, Saddam became a general in the Iraqi armed forces. He took on a bigger role as the current leader became weaker and older. He led the country for several years before actually coming to official power.

Saddam Hussein was largely supported by the Sunnis who account for only between 20% and 35% (depending on what source you believe) of the people of Iraq.

Saddam took on many faces during his dictatorship. At times, he would dress in Bedouin costumes which Iraqi peasants traditionally wore. These were the same clothes he wore as a child.

At other times, he would dress in Kurdish clothing. Also, he would don the traditional devout Muslim robe and headpiece and be shown facing Mecca while in prayer. What a photo op!

He would also be shown in full military regalia, showing himself as the mighty military conqueror.

To appeal to the West, he would appear in Western suits, like men in the United States wear, showing that he was a modern world leader.

So many photo opportunities with everyone around him looking so happy. All the while, he was abusing and killing Iraqis while he lived in palaces all over Iraq.