Sadam, Superman of Iraq?

When Tony Horwitz travels to Baghdad it is evident from the minute he arrives that Saddam Hussein did everything he could to place his name and face on everything in this city. When Mr. Horwitz arrives at the airport in Baghdad he immediately notices that Saddam is starting at him from every wall inside. An Iraqi Official describes the man they call “Big Brother” as “Superman”. This seems quite ironic to me because Superman was a character who triumphed over evil, not enforced evil itself. Saddam was seen on the walls in the airport, on the billboards bordering the highway, and even staring up on the face of a wristwatch. Superman certainly would not want this much publicity. Saddam may believe that he is the man to turn to in Iraq, the leader who will turn his country around. However, why would a man who seems so confident in his ability to lead do such a thing as censor everything from the T.V. to the weather in his country? Mr. Horwitz’s typewriter was frowned upon due to the possibility that he may produce and hand out anti-government, anti Saddam paraphernalia. It is easy to see that Saddam knows that he is doing nothing but harm to his country, he does not care about anything or anyone besides his wealth and his position of leader of a country in great need of a turnaround.
-PC