Saddam Hussein :: essays research papers

Saddam ibn Talal ibn Talal Hussein Saddam Hussein, an Iraqi political leader, was born to a poor Arab family on April 28, 1937. Hussein study law in Egypt after his attempt to assassinate the premier of Iraq, Abdul Karim Kassem, in 1959. In the summer of 1968, the Baath party returned to power and named Hussein as alternate chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council. Hussein has been described by many an(prenominal) as the most powerful person in Iraq beca theatrical role of his intimidation of enemies, on the alert control of his political power, and his military purges. Saddam finally gained control of the Iraq government in 1979. His many goals as President included attempting to increase industrial production, reorganizing government policies in agriculture, and improving education and the status of women. Hussein foremost began a successful development program of Iraqs huge fossil oil resources. However, this development and economic and social advances were at risk w hen Iraq went to war with Iran from 1980 to 1988. Hussein started this war to control Arab-inhabited areas and especially for oil resources. Hussein is also cognize as a ruthless leader who used chemical weapons on Kurdish people seeking freedom in the 1980s. In August, 1990, Hussein invaded and annexed Kuwait for violating oil production laws set by the Organization of oil colour Exports Countries(OPEC). (Kuwait had lowered the price of oil.) The Iraqi forces killed many Kuwaiti people and steal or destroyed much property. Hussein apparently wanted to use Kuwaits vast oil resources to help Iraqs economy. many a(prenominal) people believed that Iraq would next invade neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia. Some of the countries that opposed Iraqs invasion and that sent forces to this region were the coupled States, Canada, and several Arab and Western European nations. These countries formed an allied military coalescency that caused a worldwide embargo against Iraq. The U nited Nations Security Council condemned Iraqs problem and approved the use of military force on Iraq if their troops did not withdraw from Kuwait by January 15, 1991. Hussein ignored this demand and refused to withdraw. The egress of this decision was to go to war. On January 16, 1991, the allies bombed military targets in Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq, in return, launched missiles against Saudi Arabia and Israel. The U.S.-led military coalition drove Iraqs armies out of Kuwait. This war, called the Iranian Gulf War, lasted only six weeks. On April 11, 1991, the U.N.