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'''Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti''', (''Arabic'' صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي) (April 28, 1937 – December 30, 2006) was the [[Sunni]] despot of [[Iraq]] from July 16, 1979<ref>http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aasaddambio.htm</ref> to December 14, 2003<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3317429.stm</ref>.  

'''Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti''', (''Arabic'' صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي) (April 28, 1937 – December 30, 2006) was the [[Sunni]] president of [[Iraq]] from July 16, 1979<ref>http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aasaddambio.htm</ref> to December 14, 2003<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3317429.stm</ref>. Hussein's leadership tactics were questionable, to say the least. Saddam saw himself as a social revolutionary and a modernizer, following the Nasser model. To the consternation of Islamic conservatives, his government gave women freedoms and offered them high-level government and industry jobs. Saddam also created a Western-style legal system, making Iraq the only country in the Persian Gulf region not ruled according to traditional Islamic law (Sharia). Saddam abolished the Sharia law courts, except for personal injury claims.

As is often the case, national alignments can change rapidly. During the 1980s, during the [[Iran-Iraq War]], the [[United States of America|United States]] considered Saddam Hussein to be a friend and assisted him with loans <ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/</ref>. During the 1990s, however, after Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait Hussein was considered one of America's greatest enemies.

As is often the case, national alignments can change rapidly. During the 1980s, during the [[Iran-Iraq War]], the [[United States of America|United States]] considered Saddam Hussein to be a friend and assisted him with loans <ref>http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/</ref>. During the 1990s, however, after Iraq invaded and annexed Kuwait Hussein was considered one of America's greatest enemies.

He was one of the few modern leaders who used [[WMD]]s, specifically [[chemical weapon]]s, in war; and was the instigator of at least two wars: the [[Iran-Iraq War]] during the 1980s and Iraq's August, 1990, invasion of Kuwait.

He was one of the few modern leaders who used [[WMD]]s, specifically [[chemical weapon]]s, in war; and was the instigator of at least two wars: the [[Iran-Iraq War]] during the 1980s and Iraq's August, 1990, invasion of Kuwait.

In 2003 a "[[coalition of the willing]]" invaded Iraq to force a change of regime from Saddam's [[Ba'athist]] party to a constitutional liberal democracy.  A further aim was to break the alliance between [[al Qaeda]] and Saddam Hussein, though this link has never been proven. <ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp]</ref>.  

In 2003 a "[[coalition of the willing]]" invaded Iraq to force a change of regime from Saddam's [[Ba'athist]] party to a constitutional liberal democracy.  A further aim was to break the alliance between [[al Qaeda]] and Saddam Hussein, though this link has never been proven. <ref>[http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/003/033jgqyi.asp]</ref>.