The Worst Leader of Modern Times: Saddam Hussein

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The research is about one of the previous presidents of Iraq that ruled from 1987 to 2006, Saddam Hussein. He was born in 1937 near Takrit and hanged in 2006 . As a kid, he was beaten by his stepfather and despised by other children . He was an intelligent man; he studied law in Egypt . Saddam was very powerful but he did not use his influence in a positive way. It is important to know and understand what Saddam did wrong in the past in order to not repeat the same mistakes. Saddam is a relevant character because he has had conflicts that affected pretty much all the North American countries. Saddam Hussein was undoubtedly one of the most powerful men of the world, in a negative way of course. Saddam controlled his country on many facets such as: politics, military and culture.
First, Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq, a position that gave him power to lead the country, to invest money and to create a network of contacts with other countries. In Iraq, Saddam was a dictator since the political system was absolute monarchy. Thus, if Saddam had an idea it was almost certain he could and would make it happen. Saddam “is a rational and political calculator who can reverse himself on a dime if his regime is threatened” . The presidential position gave him the power of decisions because he did not have to consult anyone. Also, Hussein could invest as much money as he wanted and where he wanted. The large freedom of decision in his presidency is what makes him such a negative leader. For instance, the holy grail of Saddam was to possess a nuclear bomb . Having this idea in mind, “[Saddam] was spending billions on a program to develop biological and nuclear arms and exotic long-range delivery systems” . To achieve his objective Sa...

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...Ohost (accessed November 14, 2013).

Salih, Mohammed A. "Iraq: Saddam's execution may cut short trial in Kurds' deaths." New York. Amsterdam News, November 16, 2006., 2, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

Theil, Stefan, et al. "Saddam's Bunkers." Newsweek 141, no. 14 (April 7, 2003): 48. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

Whitelaw, Kevin, Mark Mazzetti, and Thomas Omestad. 2002. "Why War?." U.S. News & World Report 133, no. 14: 16. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 12, 2013).

"ENEMY OF THE STATE: The Trial and Execution of Saddam Hussein." Kirkus Reviews 76, no. 13 (July 2008): 691. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

2013. "Saddam Hussein." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition 1. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 12, 2013).

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