19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful story of America's nemesis du jour, November 12, 2002
By A Customer
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 American stance towards Iraq, more needs to be learned and known. This is a great start towards that public education.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Realistic picture of Saddam as a westerner can see it, January 6, 2003
Con Coughlin's book on Saddam is written because the author clearly has something to say about his subject. He doesn't fall into typical trap of citing the most horrific stories told by the natural iraqi storytellers. Still he sees the specific aspects of Iraq, unlike some who equate Saddam with other tyrants of the world in the mood "parallel lives of Saddam and Hitler".
Coughlin's strenght is Saddam's Iraq, which he masters well. As I have lived in Iraq for ten years (1980-1990) I feel I can regognize that. Many who write on Iraq tend to see that Saddam rules purely with the help of satan - like the US cold war propaganda explained the success of communism.
It can not be denied that Saddam's regime is very ruthless. Still it has given something to common iraqis. Coughlin notes the role of nationalizing Iraq's oil in 1972, which made iraqis to accept bath's rule and purge of communist and other elements in the first place.
Coughlin places Saddam well within the clan system of Iraq. Saddam's rule is based on his family and clans attached to it. Coughlin doesn't deal much with islam, which also plays a role. Reason for this may be his lack of capacity. For example he talks in one place about seven pillars of islam (should be five)-in this he may mix with Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom.
Anyway Coughlin makes a very good picture of Iraq's president. Compared to the unbalanced books from beginning of the 1990's, Coughlin has come a long way. I Expect that this book will last the test of time, unlike books rated by some commentators few years back as standard books on Saddam.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS is why we HAVE to rid Iraq of Saddam, March 31, 2003
This book is hard to read because you don't want to believe someone like Saddam has been left go this long - I must admit that before I read this book I thought we shouldn't go to war but once I started reading all I wanted was for us to rid the world of such a person - I have told everyone I know and some that I didn't how awful Saddam is and how they need to read this book - I think they should hand it out to everyone - No one would be against the war if they knew the truth - Thank you Con Coughlin for setting me straight and I hope that many others read your book and also learn the truth.
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