Saddam Hussein's Rise to Power: Insights from Fadhel Al-Azzawi
In a revealing episode of the “Witness to the Era” program on Al Jazeera 360, Fadhel Al-Azzawi, the former Director of Iraqi Intelligence, provides an insider's perspective on the significant transformations in Iraq following Saddam Hussein's rise to power. Al-Azzawi recounts how Saddam, who had long aspired to the presidency, began his ascent during the declining health of Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr, Iraq's former president. With a youthful charisma and political ambition, Saddam was poised to take control, a move that would reshape the nation’s future.
The 1975 Border Agreement and Khomeini's Exile
Al-Azzawi elaborates on Saddam's strategic role as Vice President, particularly highlighting the 1975 border agreement with Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, facilitated by Algerian President Houari Boumediene. This agreement included a controversial clause where Iran would cease its support for Kurdish rebels in exchange for Iraq's expulsion of Ayatollah Khomeini, who had been a vocal critic of the Shah. Al-Azzawi clarifies that while Iraq did not expel Khomeini initially, he was eventually asked to cease his anti-Iran activities, leading to Khomeini's departure to France—a move Al-Azzawi deems a significant error for Iraq at that time.
International Dynamics and Sectarian Conflicts
In his testimony, Al-Azzawi discusses the broader geopolitical implications of Khomeini's rise, citing U.S. and French complicity in establishing a sectarian Islamic regime in Iran. He references Zbigniew Brzezinski's assertion that fostering religious conflicts could serve as a buffer against Soviet expansionism in the region. Al-Azzawi characterizes the Sunni-Shiite tensions as part of an international conspiracy involving Israel, further complicating Iraq's political landscape during Saddam's regime. He remains evasive about whether Saddam's ascension was orchestrated with American backing, yet emphasizes Saddam's reluctance to strengthen ties with the U.S. despite the tense relations at the time.
