The Features of Saddam Hussein's Rule

How did Saddam rule Iraq?

Saddam Hussein was a dictator who used a variety of techniques to ensure total power over his subjects.

How did Saddam use terror to rule Iraq?

Saddam Hussein used 3 different techniques of terrorising anyone who might present a threat to his rule.

• ❖ When he became president in 1979 he carried out a purge of the Ba'ath Party, executing 500 members.
• ❖ Some political opponents, such as Mashhadi, were subject to televised show trials.
• ❖ He carried out retaliation attacks. For example, 150 villagers were executed in response to an assassination attempt on him in Dujail.

How did Saddam use a cult of personality to rule?

There were 3 types of propaganda Saddam used to develop his cult of personality.

• ❖ Statue and portraits of him were placed in prominent places all around Iraq.
• ❖ His birthday was a national holiday.
• ❖ He was glorified in the media.

How did Saddam treat minorities?

Saddam used 5 different methods against the minority groups in Iraq.

• ❖ Saddam became suspicious of Shia Muslims after the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979. In 1980-81, 200,000 Iraqi Shia were deported, and their businesses handed to the government.
• ❖ In 1974-75, Saddam's troops attacked the Kurds, who made up 20% of Iraq's population and wanted to break away and form their own nation state.
• ❖ During the Iran-Iraq War, Saddam used chemical weapons against the Kurdish town of Halabja in 1988.
• ❖ After the Iran-Iraq War, Saddam decided to solve the 'Kurdish problem'. Using chemical weapons and mass executions, his forces killed about 180,000 Kurds. Around 100,000 fled to Turkey.
• ❖ The numbers of Marsh-Arabs in south-east Iraq dropped from a quarter of a million to about 30,000 after Saddam constructed a new waterway in the region.

Was Saddam's regime totalitarian?

Saddam ultimately achieved absolute power in Iraq.

• ❖ Censorship and tightly controlled media meant the public only heard positive views of the regime.
• ❖ It was a capital offence to criticise the government or join an opposition party.
• ❖ Special courts were run by the president's office.
• ❖ All production was geared to the needs of the state.

How did Saddam increase the military?

There were 6 ways Saddam increased the military.

• ❖ Saddam used profits from the oil industry to build up the Iraqi military.
• ❖ Iraq bought weapons from the USSR, France, Yugoslavia and Brazil.
• ❖ Iraq purchased tanks, bombers, surface-to-air missiles, electronic equipment and other state-of-the-art weaponry.
• ❖ By July 1979, Saddam had constructed Iraq's first chemical weapon plant, which produced chemicals such as distilled mustard, tabun and VX gas.
• ❖ The chemical weapons industry also began producing anthrax, typhoid and cholera in the 1980s.
• ❖ Although Saddam attempted to begin a nuclear programme, bombing raids by Israel and during the Gulf War prevented this.

How did Saddam use the infrastructure to control the people?

Saddam introduced 7 important changes to the infrastructure of Iraq.

• ❖ Rural villages received electricity and other improvements.
• ❖ There were improved roads and water supplies.
• ❖ Health care was free.
• ❖ University education was free.
• ❖ Government subsidies were given to artists.
• ❖ There was freedom of religious worship.
• ❖ Local government in Iraq was largely free from corruption.