Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were two autocratic rulers who maintained an iron grip over their respective countries, Iraq and Libya. Both leaders eventually met tragic ends, with Saddam being captured by the United States and later executed, while Gaddafi was brutally killed by his own people during a revolt against his rule. This article will discuss the differences between these two dictators.
Gaddafi
Colonel Gaddafi ruled Libya from 1969 until his death in 2011. He rose to power after a bloodless coup in which he overthrew King Idris. Gaddafi controlled Libya for 42 years, and although he served as Prime Minister for 8 years, since 1977, he held no official title. Under his rule, Libya became the richest African state in terms of per capita income, largely due to its oil reserves.
The West initially had a positive relationship with Gaddafi, as long as he continued to supply oil. However, in the 1980s, Gaddafi began developing chemical weapons and engaged in conflicts with several countries, leading to tensions with the West. He supported various rebel movements, which made it difficult for the West to understand his true intentions. His regime was eventually implicated in terrorist activities, including the Munich Olympics killings and the Lockerbie bombings.
After Saddam Hussein’s capture in 2003, Gaddafi admitted to having an active weapons of mass destruction program and allowed UN inspectors to dismantle it. In 2011, protests against Gaddafi’s rule intensified, and he was ultimately captured and killed by rebels on October 20, 2011.
Saddam
Saddam Hussein came to power in 1968 through a bloodless coup orchestrated by the Iraqi Baath Party. He became the 5th President of Iraq and remained in power until his arrest by US troops in 2003. Saddam nationalized banks and placed fellow Sunnis in positions of power. Iraq was at war with Iran from 1980-1988, and Saddam also dealt with internal Kurdish and Shia revolts.
Saddam’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990 brought him into the international spotlight. The 1991 Gulf War, led by the United States, freed Kuwait from Iraq, but Saddam remained in power. In 2003, the United States invaded Iraq due to suspicions of a weapons of mass destruction program. Saddam was captured in December 2003 and later executed on December 30, 2006, after being convicted of killing 148 Shia people.
Key Takeaways
- Gaddafi was killed by his own people, while Saddam was executed by the United States.
- Gaddafi ruled without an official title, while Saddam was the President of Iraq until his capture.
- Both leaders were involved in weapons of mass destruction programs, but Gaddafi admitted to it and allowed UN inspectors to dismantle it, while Saddam was suspected of continuing such a program.
