Iraq 1968-1979
By Denis Mueller

When the Baath Party returned to power they were determined
stay there. The demise of Nasserism left an opening in the
Middle East. What was different was the role of the Tikritis
who maintained dominance in the party. While Ahmad Hasan al
Bakr was the leader the behind the scene power was Saddam
Hussein. Hussein seized control of the security apparatus
and this would have profound consequences for the region.

After only two months in power the pro-Nasser elements in
Iraq attempted a coup. This caused a series of executions
and assassinations to consolidate their power. Hussien was
a behind the scenes operator. In that respect, he was very
much like Stalin. He controlled the intelligence apparatus
so he was in position to gather power among the Baath Party.

It is interesting to note that once in power the Baath Party
tried to settle the Kurdish problem by offering them greater
self rule. In the meantime relations with Iran began to
deteriorate. Iran refused to honor treaties, which had been
in effect since 1937. The shah occupied the islands of Abu
Musa and the Greater and Lasser Tunds. It was at this time
Iraq wanted to develop a deep seaport, which would lead to
the Gulf War of 1991.

But the most serious threat to Iraq was a resurgence of
Kurdish unrest and with Baath attempts at assassination of
Kurdish leaders fighting broke out. Kurdish forces were
aided by military hardware from Israel and Syria, an
unlikely combination to be sure, which inflicted heavy
causalities on the Iraq forces. Saddam Hussein in an effort
to quell the rebellion sought to reach an agreement with the
shah.

In Algiers, Hussein reached an agreement, which saw Iraq
agree to Iran's abrogation of the treaty of 1937. At the
same time Hussein offered the Kurds an autonomy plan for
the Kurds but he also drove many of them out of the oil
rich regions and began to populate these areas with Sunni
Arabs. This dual policy failed to appease the Kurds and
fighting and resistance continued. Iraq moved to quell the
new rebellion while at the same time improving the economic
conditions of everyday citizens.

For the first time in Iraq history a national government
had been established. This was done in ruthless manner but
the day to day life for Iraq citizens, especially the Sunni
Arabs improved, and Iraq moved to end support for the
Marxist regime in South Yemen. At the same time the
agreement between Israel and Egypt left an opening for Iraq
to become the leader of Arab opposition to Israel.

Hussein viewed the agreement as an opportunity in which Iraq
could play a leading role in the Middle East affairs. It was
not out of any love for the embattled people of Palestine
but a cynical attempt to fill a vacuum left because of
Egypt's agreement with Israel. He also moves to ease the
conflict with Syria. Hussein also became the first Iraq
leader to visit Jordan. But Iran kept helping the Kurds and
this, along with Hussein own ambitions, would lead to a
bloody war with Iran. It would be a costly war, which would
come to change the landscape of the Middle East and
eventually lead to the first Gulf War.

Source: Library of Congress