Nature of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq

Nature of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq

1. Positions

   • President
   • Chairman of RCC
   • Prime Minister
   • Commander-in-Chief of armed forces
   • Ruled as dictator

2. Purges and terror

   • Dealing with opponents
     • Unquestioned mastery
       • hundrets executed
   • Meeting with Ba'ath party
     • Naming of 66 persons
       • killed and prison
   • Arresting, torture etc. became normal under his rule

3. Waging war on his own people

   • Wants to unify Iraq
     • Kurds
       • Campaigns against them
         • Concentration camps
         • Killed many
       • Want independence
     • Shiites
       • Human shields against tanks
       • Hostile asainst regime
       • Executed and arrested

4. Personality cult

   • Realised that dictatorship not popular
     • Wants to improve image of him
   • Photos and films of him
     • To picture him better
     • Hang out in streets
   • Visiting homes of people
   • Doubles to appear more often

5. Modernisation

   • Oil nationalisation
     • Finances improve
   • Carrying out economy, social facilities and institutions
     • Support from Iraqi people
     • Had to suffer because war was expensive

6. Military expansion

   • Builds military power from oil revenues
   • Buys weapons
     • Tanks, bombers etc.
     • Biological, chemical and nuclear weapons too

7. Totalitarianism

   • Absolute power in Iraq
     • Control over social, economic and political life
   • Children already introduced to Baath ideas and leader
   • A lot Censorship
   • All production for needs of state
   • Membership of Baath important (essential)