Saddam: King of Terror

by Con Coughlin, Con Coghlin, Con Couglin

Book Overview

An unprecedented biography, drawn from the author's exclusive access to high-ranking defectors, intelligence officials, and even Saddam's own relatives -- fully illustrated with photos from his early... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060505419
• ISBN13: 9780060505417
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Ecco Press
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.8" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Chilling portrayal of a bloodthirsty monster

This comprehensive biography takes us from Saddam Hussein's obscure birth in the late 1930's to late 2002, shortly before the 2003 Iraq War that removed the bloodthirsty tyrant from power. The book reveals Saddam's millitary, logistical and finacial support for Al Qaida in the period before the 911 bombings of the Twin Towers, in New York. Immediately after the atrocity by Al Qaida Saddam put Iraq on a war footing. Iraq's support for Al Qaida was certainly ample reason to justify a US attack on Iraq. Saddam had a harsh and deprived childhood, much like fellow mass murderers Stalin and Hitler. He was strongly influenced by his maternal uncle Khairallah Tulfah, with whom Saddam lived for some years from when he was about nine. Khairallah was a strong Nazi sympathizer who was imprisoned for four years following following his part in the failed pro-Nazi coup of 1941. He clearly was a strong influence on Saddam's political outlook. Khairallah authored a document published on Saddam's orders, many years later, in 1981, entitled "Three Whom God Should Not Have Created: Persians, Jews and Flies". The book covers Saddam's early career as a street thug, and his first political murder in 1958. It also covers important events in Iraq's modern political history, and Saddam's rise to power such as: *The 1958 Free Officers Revolution, in which the young King Faisel II and his family were massacred, and the monarchy deposed, and General Abdul Karim Qassem installed as dictator, with the support of the Iraqi Communist Party. * The failed 1959 coup nationalist against Qasem, which led to a brutal orgy of rape, looting and mass murder by the Communists against the nationalists and their families. * Saddam's exile in Egypt after his attempted assasination of Qassem. * The 1963 Baathist-suported coup which brought Abdul Salim Arif to power, and led to street battles between the Baathists (of which Saddam was a member) and the Communists. It was at this time that Saddam returned to Iraq and played a part in the bloody revenge by Baathists against the Communists for the earlier Communist purges. Saddam's execution of so many Communists makes the support he was to recieve in the 90's and early 2000's from Communists and leftists around the world all the more strange. * The 1968 coup that finally brought the Baath Party to power, under Ahmad Hassan al Bakr, in the aftermath of Iraq and other Arab Sate's ignominious defeat by little Israel in the 1967 Six Day War. Shortly afterwards there took place public hangings in Baghdad of Jews, who were accused of being 'Zionist spies. In the early 1970's the Baath regime formed an alliance with Moscow, despite Bakr and Saddam's dislike of Communism. Saddam rapidly rose in power in the Baath regime and took a great interest in Iraq's development of deadly chemical weapons. The book details his admiration of Hitler and Stalin, and his modelling of his leadership on these tyrants. By 1976 Saddam was the de facto leader of Ir

Unveiling a people's history

How did the impoverished boy from the middle of nowhere become Iraq's strongest dictator and its most brutal tyrant? In a wonderful narrative and an attractive style Con Coughling answer this question as more as he sheds light on the life of deposed Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein in his book Saddam Hussein: The Secret Life. Saddam's life might have been secret for many Westerners and even non-Iraqi Arabs, but for Iraqis, the stories of terror, corruption and palace conspiracies were everywhere. Coughlin did a marvelous job in documenting them and putting them together. The book highlights Saddam's mastery of fist-fighting at first, which compensated his little intellect and political ability. That was one of the main reasons why the Baath Party's founders and mentors took him under their wing and elevated him to the highest of position: Saddam was ready and willing to terrorize others on behalf of the Baath and impose a harsh rule. Eventually, Saddam, a hard worker fascinated by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, eliminated his own comrades and even family members. The book shows the downward way of Saddam and his family which ultimately led to their political isolation, the destruction of Iraq and finally hi own deposition.

Wonderful

I could not put this book down! It is very detailed and really shows the real Saddam to the reader. Can be very disturbing.

Makes a convincing case for removing Saddam...

In this book, the author portrays Saddam Hussein as a murderer, despot, international terrorist, and developer of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. To develop these claims, the author uses interviews that he has conducted with the many Iraqis who have defected to other countries. After reading this book, it seems simply astounding that we even have to debate whether or not to remove this tyrant. The author makes a convincing case that Saddam must be removed. It is clear from reading this book that Saddam has murdered countless numbers of his own people, and would not hesitate to spread his misery elsewhere. Highly readable and recommended, as well as very timely!

Powerful story of America's nemesis du jour

This is an interesting, timely, informative, helpful work, Like much of the life of Iraq's leader, the exact date and year of Saddam Hussein's birth is arguably unknown. Not surprisingly, a lot of what is known about him is equally vague, subject to revision or argument. Yet the story is worth telling and well worth reading. There is much to be learned. Coughlin cites ancient conflicts, e.g., Persian versus Arabic differences, and shows how Western addiction to and Arab control over oil created the rise of the region as strategic resource. Before that time, there was not much of interest in the region, other than to colonial powers. Given the reticence of those most knowledgeable of Hussein to speak freely (if they care to live), the absence of good records, and the flattering propaganda produced by his government, writing this book must have been difficult. Few sources on Saddam can be judged to be authoritative. There are very strong biases on each side. The author attempts to introduce and judge competing, even equally unreliable reports of the same event. He does not engage in excessive speculation. Hussein rose from a feudal, tribal society, where progress, loyalty and consolidating tribal power led to what we'd call inbreeding if not incest, with the marriage of close relatives and sometimes questionable paternity (including Saddam's). He is often labeled a thug; he is ruthless, unforgiving, not well educated early in his life, and sensitive to social class envy. He is a staunch anti-communist who allied himself with the Russians and murdered communist party officers while openly admiring Stalin and running a totalitarian dictatorship. He takes offense easily; he applies punishment quickly. Foreign powers can be called on account for the instability and a revenge on the West factor in the Arab world. There's the British failures to honor promises to Arabs following World War I, the French government happy to sell Arabs (and Israelis) nuclear power plants and fighter planes, and the German's willing to help Saddam develop nerve gas. Many western countries wanted to recycle the petrodollars they paid for newly expensive oil. Hussein's nationalization of Iraqi oil paid for his rise, increasing state revenues led to a spending spree in early 1980s on weapons, infrastructure, and programs for people. With this, he won the respect and admiration of his people while also engendering fear and domestic terror. As a military leader he has been a general if not abysmal failure. He miscalculated Iran's staying power under Khomeni. A disastrous war followed. And after Teheran hostage taking, where my enemy's enemy is my friend, Saddam earned American approval and support, including CIA. There is some speculation that CIA started supporting him well before he came to power. The book offers a good understanding of the region and a reasonably complete understanding of Hussein. For those seeking a justification for or even an understanding of the Amer