Saddam Hussein’s emergence as Iraq’s violent leader.

For more than two decades, Saddam Hussein ruthlessly oppressed the Iraqi population. This tyrant, who began with humble beginnings, joined an extremist organization at a young age and swiftly climbed its hierarchy. Despite facing imprisonment and attending law school, he resorted to betraying his closest allies in a ruthless pursuit of power. Saddam Hussein's reign was marked by a chilling determination to eliminate any opposition to his rule, resulting in the death sentences of hundreds of individuals. He subjected thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians to torture and murder, cementing his position as one of the most savage dictators in history. Born on April 28, 1937, his rise to power foreshadowed the horrors that would define his oppressive regime. Saddam Hussein was born in Al alja a small village about eight miles out of the city of tikrit in Iraq when Saddam was born this area is one of the poorest in the country his father died before he was brought into the world which only made his life that much more difficult in rural Iraq. Growing up in poverty, young Saddam experienced the constant struggle of inadequate nourishment, often going without sufficient food. At a certain point, his family decided to send him to live with his uncle in Baghdad. Disturbingly, reports indicate that Saddam endured both physical abuse at home and relentless bullying from other children. While such circumstances can be seen as a common thread in the upbringing of some infamous dictators, it is important to acknowledge that many individuals who have faced similarly difficult childhoods have not resorted to becoming oppressive and murderous rulers. These early hardships set the stage for the events that would unfold in 1957. At the age of 20, Saddam Hussein became a member of the Ba'ath Party. Originating in Damascus, Syria, in 1943, the Ba'ath Party aimed to establish a pan-Arab socialist nation and counteract imperialism and colonialism in the Middle East. While the party's leaders professed to be guided by Islamic principles and espoused positive values, the organization initially exhibited authoritarian tendencies. Consequently, the well-being of the masses was never truly prioritized within their agenda. Instead, the primary focus of the Ba'ath Party was to seize power and reshape the Middle East according to their own interpretation of Islam. These formative years within the party laid the groundwork for Saddam's future endeavors. In 1962, Hussein enrolled in Cairo Law School, but his stint lasted only a year before he returned to Iraq. It was during this period that the Ba'ath Party seized control of the Iraqi government in what became known as the Ramadan Revolution. Recognizing the significance of education for his political aspirations, Saddam resumed his studies at Baghdad Law College. He was determined to lay the groundwork necessary to ascend the ranks within the party and establish himself as a prominent figure.

It is important to note that every step taken by Saddam Hussein was methodical and calculated. He understood that his path would either lead him to a position of power or result in his relentless pursuit until the end. However, fate dealt a severe blow to Hussein's ambitions, shattering his dreams and plunging the country into chaos. In the same year that the Ba'ath Party assumed control of the government, they were overthrown, leading to Saddam's arrest and subsequent imprisonment.

While incarcerated, Saddam pondered intensely over the reasons for the party's failure to retain power. He sought individuals to hold accountable and contemplated strategies to fortify the party's position upon his release. Strikingly reminiscent of Adolf Hitler's actions before his prominent role within the Nazi party, Saddam's time in prison became a crucible for his ideological evolution.

Saddam reached the conclusion that the Ba'ath Party's downfall resulted from weak leadership and an excessive reliance on the Iraqi military for support. This pivotal realization would shape his future actions, as he embarked on a mission to strengthen the party's position. By 1966, Saddam Hussein was resolute in his determination to reshape the party and secure a more formidable future. Saddam Hussein's rise to power within the Ba'ath Party was marked by his strategic maneuvering and the establishment of a private security force, which allowed him to consolidate his influence and eliminate opposition. Despite being in prison, Saddam continued to climb the ranks and became the deputy secretary of the regional command. In this position, he conceived the idea of creating a loyal security force, known as the Bathist Militia, to carry out the party's objectives. This move aimed to address the problem that led to their loss of power during the first revolution.

When Saddam eventually escaped from prison, he emerged as one of the most influential leaders in the Ba'ath Party. He wasted no time utilizing his private security force to instigate chaos in Baghdad. Saddam would order harassment and assassinations of those who opposed the Ba'ath Party, terrorizing the civilian population and eliminating political opponents.

During Saddam's emergence, Abd al-Salam Arif served as the president of Iraq. However, Saddam and the party leadership viewed Arif as weak, attributing their forced underground status after the failed Ramadan Revolution in 1968 to his leadership. The Ba'ath Party initiated another revolution, with Saddam playing a significant role in reorganizing the party's power structure and leadership. Amar Hassan al-Bakr rose to prominence as the Secretary of the regional leadership, with Saddam serving as his right-hand man.

Saddam's responsibility was to rally support for al-Bakr among the general population, using his enforcers to persuade or intimidate dissenters. In July 1968, the Ba'ath Party launched a coup to remove the Arif regime from power, garnering support from both the military and civilians. The party cited corruption, mishandling of Kurdish disturbances, lack of support for Arab nations in the Six-Day War, and subservience to Egypt's president Gamal Abdel Nasser as grounds for overthrowing the government. These allegations held some truth, but the primary factor was the Arif regime's reliance on the military and absence of popular elections, leading to their loss of support from the masses.

After seizing control, the Ba'ath Party established the Revolutionary Command Council as the supreme authority in Iraq. Al-Bakr became the new president, but Saddam Hussein, as his most loyal officer, held substantial power behind the scenes. As al-Bakr's health deteriorated, Saddam assumed more control, gradually shaping a government with absolute authority over the country.

Saddam implemented various reforms, focusing on infrastructure development, healthcare, social services, and education. He also nationalized the oil industry, generating significant revenue for the regime. However, alongside these positive changes, Saddam initiated a chemical weapons program, expanded his security forces, and employed terror tactics to maintain control. Any dissent expressed by the general population was met with public displays of force, such as arresting foreign journalists on false charges and executing them publicly.

Internal tensions within the Ba'ath Party arose as some members, led by Al-Naif and Al-Dayud, sought a more socialist structure and lenient foreign policy. However, Saddam swiftly crushed this opposition. Al-Naif was arrested but offered exile, while Al-Dayud remained in Jordan to avoid arrest upon his return to Iraq.

To secure his position, Saddam placed loyalists in key positions within the government, emphasizing the importance of family and tribal ties over competence. He purged thousands of military officers deemed a threat and gradually ensured the majority of government positions were occupied by loyal Ba'ath Party members.

Despite holding the position of Vice President, Saddam Hussein exerted immense control over Iraq, making significant changes and shaping the nation according to his vision. He knew it was only a matter of time before he assumed full leadership. In 1979, Saddam orchestrated the resignation of