Although al-Bakr was the formal leader, Saddam quickly became the dominant figure behind the scenes, controlling security, intelligence, and party structures. He laid the groundwork for his eventual takeover in 1979. The Ba’athists promoted Arab nationalism, modernization, and state control over key industries, particularly oil, while suppressing political opposition and managing sectarian tensions through authoritarian means. This period set the stage for Saddam’s rise, as Iraqis were drawn to promises of order, economic development, and national unity.
Understanding Iraq before Saddam is crucial for appreciating both the challenges he inherited and the authoritarian strategies he employed to consolidate power. Iraq program aims to reduce interethnic and interreligious violence, speed up stabilization and democratization, and reduce the need for a U.S. presence in Iraq. As part of this program, USIP has maintained a small office in the Green Zone in Baghdad since early 2004. Rusty Barber, a former political officer in the Foreign Service, has run the office since March 2007. His regular dispatches offer a lively and sobering insider’s view of the promise and peril facing U.S. efforts in that country. We’ll update this section each week, making only minimal changes for security reasons.
