Caryatid Painting by Amed0 Modigliani

SADDAM HUSSEIN
IRAQ: DICTATOR WHO FACED THS UPER POWERS

He dmade his efforts over peace with Iran before the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1991. Claiming Kuwait as annexation of Iraq, he occupied it., over which the entire world resented. The US, UK and other western nations deemed it to be a challenge to their supremacy and the UN Security Council condemned this occupation and asked Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, the oil kingdom, None of them desired that Iraq become hegemonistic over Gulf oil resources following the inept functioning of Arab Shiekhs with their uppish characteristics. It may be remembered barring a few; most of the Arab countries are ruled by feudal Sheikhs and puppets of western powers. Eventually, war broke out as Iraq refused to budge from its position during Jan. 14-17,1991. On one side was a force of 28 allies headed by the US and on the other was belligerent Iraq. The duel lasted for 72 hours; either side tested modern and sophisticated weapons. Iraq’s use of Scud missiles was countered by American Patriot missiles, with hundreds of tankers for shoting army officials and Saddam Hussein. It had led to the evacuation of mediamen and other peace-loving people enjoying the hospitality of Baghdad. Spying and counter-spying became interesting phenomena.

Iraq suffered massive destruction due to the might of her antagonists. Eventually, it was forced to vacate Kuwait. After the war, Iraq had up face rebellion of its Shia and Kurd minorities. In August-September, 1996 a fresh armed flare-up between two fractions of Kurd minorities disturbed the political balance in the area after renewed American interference against Iraq. However, the matter is now being monitored by UN observers over the region lwhich has been declared as no-flying zone. At the same time, Saddam Husseing had to divert his energies to the reconstruction of his war-ravaged country with the reparations exceeding one billion dollars. Saddam remains the most discussed head of government in the world. Two of Saddam’s son-in-laws who defected earlier to Jordan, were done to death in 1996, when they returned in Iraq even after assurance of their safety. He may be a tyrant and dicatator, but he has kept his country’s self-respect untarnished and in spite of reverses his aspiration remain high as ever.