The Rise and Fall of Saddam Hussein - Research Paper Example

In “Saddam Hussein of Iraq: A Political Psychology Profile,” Post examines the psychological profile of Hussein and argues that this labeling is “pejorative” and “inaccurate” (279). He stresses that the past few decades of analysis of Saddam’s profile underscored that is he not irrational, but a very calculating political leader that has dangerous efficacy (Baram; Adib-Moghaddam ). He and al-Khafaji stress that Saddam’s actions and decisions reflect his personal “needs and messianic ambitions” (Post 279).

Saddam Hussein was born in 1937 to an underprivileged peasant family near Takrit in the heart of Iraq. His father died before he was born, and, in line with tradition, a paternal uncle married his mother (Post 279). Since then, Saddam proved true to his name, which means "the fighter who stands steadfast," and he designed his own destiny without considering the limits of poverty and lack of power (Post 280). When he was 10 years old, Saddam was impressed with his cousin who was literate (Post 280).

He stressed to his family that he wanted to study also, but when they rejected his request, he ran away from him at night and went to his maternal uncle Kairallah in Takrit (Post 280).Kairallah became both Saddam's father figure and political mentor. Kairallah had been part of the forces against Great Britain in the Iraqi uprising of 1941 and had spent 5 years in prison for his autonomist campaigning (Post 280). He inculcated Saddam with feelings of heroism through recounting tales of relatives, such as his great-grandfather and two great uncles-who died for Iraqi nationalism, as they fought foreign conquerors (Post 280).

Kairallah, who also became governor of Baghdad, influences young Hussein's perspective, by also teaching him to hate foreigners and to treat them as brutal invaders (Post 280). In 1981, Saddam republished a pamphlet that his uncle wrote before, "Three Whom God Should Not Have Created: Persians, Jews, and Flies” (Post 280). This is one of the proof also of the historical animosity between Persians (Iranians) and Iraqis.