How Did Saddam Hussein Gain Power?
Saddam Hussein, the former President of Iraq, rose to power through a combination of political maneuvering, military coups, and the manipulation of the Iraqi political landscape. Understanding how Saddam Hussein gained power requires an examination of the historical context of Iraq and the events that led to his rise to the presidency.
In the early 1960s, Iraq was a monarchy under the Hashemite dynasty. However, the country was beset by internal conflicts and was facing increasing pressure from neighboring Arab states. The monarchy was overthrown in a coup in 1958, leading to a period of military rule. This instability provided an opportunity for Saddam Hussein to begin his ascent to power.
Saddam joined the Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party in the late 1950s, which sought to unite the Arab world under a socialist ideology. In 1963, a group of Ba’athists, including Saddam, attempted a coup against the military government. Although the coup failed, it marked the beginning of Saddam’s involvement in the political turmoil of the time.
The following year, a rival group of Ba’athists, led by Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, seized power in another coup. Saddam was imprisoned, but he was released in 1967 after a general amnesty. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Ba’ath Party and became a close associate of al-Bakr.
In 1979, Saddam orchestrated a coup that overthrew al-Bakr, becoming the new President of Iraq. This coup was a result of a power struggle within the Ba’ath Party, and Saddam’s rise to power was facilitated by his ability to manipulate the party’s internal dynamics and his military connections.
Saddam’s rise to power was also aided by the Iran-Iraq War, which began in 1980. Saddam used the war as a means to consolidate his power and divert attention from domestic dissent. He also employed a strategy of terror, using his secret police, the Mukhabarat, to suppress opposition and maintain control over the population.
Saddam’s rule was characterized by brutal suppression of political dissent, widespread human rights abuses, and the use of chemical weapons against both domestic opponents and neighboring Iran. Despite these tactics, he was able to maintain power for over two decades, until his overthrow in 2003 during the US-led invasion of Iraq.
In conclusion, Saddam Hussein gained power through a combination of political cunning, military coups, and the manipulation of the Iraqi political landscape. His rise to power was a complex process that involved the exploitation of the country’s instability and his ability to control and suppress opposition.
