Saddam Hussein’s totalitarian dictatorship in Iraq is disturbingly similar to the dictatorships of Stalin and even Hitler. In all of these dictatorships the country is completely sealed off from the world. Hitler is probably the best example of this with his book burnings and brainwashing of the German people. Another similarity between Hussein dictatorship and Hitler’s is that whenever there is a powerful dictatorship there is an enemy that is exaggerated and made to be the foe of the entire nation. The battle between Iraq and Iran is a great example of this. Saddam uses hatred of Iranians to unite his people under his total rule. I also thought it was interesting to read about what extreme lengths Saddam went to keep information about the war away from his people, including how many Iraqi soldiers were killed. One aspect of Iraqi life that struck me from the reading was the censorship of the citizens, and how they could not speak out against Saddam. This reminded me of Hitler, and how there could be no criticism of him. I was reminded of Hitler’s rule again when I read about the songs for Saddam. They seemed to be the same type of brainwashing anthem Nazi Germany had with their “heil Hitler.” I was really surprised to read about the multitude of portraits of Saddam. Although dictatorships in the past have had always had portraits of their dictators posted throughout the entire country and ever aspect of life, Iraq is somewhat different from dictatorships like Stalin’s and Hitler’s. In their rules they were rulers and gods almost to the people of their countries, but in Iraq the entire population is strictly Islamic. I wonder if the people of Iraq notice Saddam’s attempts to become a god amongst their society. I do not think they would through away their religion and culture and become servants to Saddam as in Stalin’s rule in Russia. In Russia Stalin abolished religion, and became almost a god to the people of Russia. I also was not sure from the reading whether most of the population of Iraq was in favor of Saddam or was against him, and just unable to speak out. From the news in America about Saddams demise I would assume they did not like his rule, but I do not know if it is just a small sum of the population that disagreed with Saddam’s rule. I think because of Saddam’s encroachment on the Islamic religion and attempting to become a god like Stalin made him unfavorable to most Iraqis. It was interesting that while reading all of the disturbing similarities between Saddam’s dictatorship and previous ones; that I knew what happens to him and his government in the end.
D.P.S.
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I agree with D.P.S. in his comparison of Saddam Hussein with other dictators and especially Adolf Hitler. Their power of the people of their nations is almost unimaginable and incredibly disturbing. The ability to completely brainwash perfectly rational people is disconcerting. The real question behind these mindless drones is what state of depravity allowed them to reach the state of desperation in which they were willing to obey any order by these men. In Germany the Treaty of Versailles left the German people in a deep depression and an unstable government and Hitler promised them order, an end to the depression, and stability and they took it. All trains ran on time during Hitler’s reign as Furher. So exactly what state were the people of Iraq in to let Saddam Hussein take power. Was it their hunger to be retuned to the old times of Muslim culture or their desire for stability? I imagine that it was a combination of these two elements that allowed a man like Saddam Hussein to come into power. The people of Iraq had nothing to lose and only something to gain. When people are scared and desperate they will choose anything or anyone who will give orders and show them the light. Perhaps they thought that great things were to come of their nation under Hussein’s control and they took their chance on Saddam Hussein who became one of the worst dictators in history.
H.C.F.
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