Bad Person Leading a Costly Conflict: Saddam Hussein and the 1980- 1988 Iran-Iraq War

摘要

Saddam Hussein was much like Adolf Hitler in his leadership philosophy ...the ends justify the means, survival of the fittest, lack of personal empathy, and reduced respect for the value of human life. Both transformed their nations into terrifying totalitarian regimes and undertook large scale acts of aggression upon their neighbors. Yet Hussein was different in two important ways. First, he has attempted to avoid prolonged conflict and irreparable damage to himself and his nation. He sued for peace within a few days of taking military action in the Iran-Iraq War and in his invasion of Kuwait. Second, he carries no ideological baggage. For Hussein, ideologies are simply tools to use to accomplish an end, such as becoming a more devout Muslim to garner support from religious leaders. In the end, Hussein's most important objective is personal power-maintaining and expanding it.