Module 1: Saddam Hussein

Saddan Hussein

Saddam Hussein’s rise to power in Iraq prior to the Iran-Iraq War reflects a complex interplay of political ambition, ideological commitment to Ba'athist nationalism, and Cold War dynamics. Born in 1937 in the town of Al-Awja, near Tikrit, Saddam grew up in a turbulent Iraq, shaped by frequent regime changes and ideological struggles. He joined the Ba'ath Party in his early 20s, embracing its ideology of Arab nationalism, Arab socialism, and secular governance. This party, founded on anti-colonial and anti-imperialist sentiment, sought to unify Arab nations under a secular, socialist platform, and its leaders soon targeted Iraq’s ruling establishment. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Ba'athists viewed Prime Minister Gen. Abd al-Karim Qasim, who had taken power after overthrowing Iraq's monarchy in 1958, as an obstacle to their vision. Qasim’s policies were seen as too liberal and potentially too friendly toward the Iraqi Communist Party, which Saddam and his fellow Ba'athists opposed vehemently.

By the early 1960s, the young Saddam became involved in clandestine Ba'athist activities, gaining a reputation for his zealous commitment to the party's cause and his anti-communist stance. In 1959, he took part in a failed Ba'athist assassination attempt against Qasim. Though wounded during the attempt and forced into exile in Egypt, Saddam remained active in the Ba'ath Party and continued his studies in law while in Cairo. During this period, he also became connected to Western intelligence agencies, including the CIA, who were interested in countering communist influence in the Middle East. For Western powers, Iraq’s Ba'ath Party seemed a promising anti-communist force, as it sought to suppress communism within Iraq and presented a counterbalance to Soviet influence in the region. This external support helped Saddam and the Ba'ath Party build a stronger network of influence, which would later prove pivotal for Saddam’s ascent to power.  The CIA found Saddam to be a useful asset and provided him with money and training.

In 1963, the Ba'ath Party successfully overthrew Qasim in what came to be known as the "Ramadan Revolution," seizing control of Iraq with military backing. Although this victory was brief, as the Ba'ath Party lost power within months due to internal conflict, Saddam continued to consolidate his influence within the party. In the years that followed, he worked systematically to climb the ranks, ultimately emerging as a key figure within Iraq’s political landscape. By the late 1960s, the Ba'athists had regained control, and Saddam held various roles, including overseeing internal security. His rise was cemented in 1979 when he orchestrated a purge within the Ba'ath Party, consolidating his authority through the elimination of rivals in what would come to be known as the 1979 Ba'ath Party Purge. This brutal event marked the start of Saddam's total control over Iraq, paving the way for his rule and setting the stage for the Iran-Iraq War in the years that followed.