Please read this:::
My point was that Saddam is brought up a lot as a 'ruthless' dictator who didn't care about anything but money and power, however this is is not the case, as he cared for Iraq greatly and this is shown when he made education obligatory and complimentary. Furthermore, a number of schools were built in every city, and at least one was built in every village in the country. He also strengthened the Iraqi economy when he nationalised oil. Saddam also helped the poor and middle-class families, especially government employees who were given small pieces of land for them to build houses on, which was complimented by loans specifically tailored for that purpose. Houses and apartments were also given to gifted students and college professors. Every student that graduated from University would be gifted a brand new car.
Basic healthcare was free for everyone, and generally dirt cheap for anything that requires more than a simple visit to the doctor. Medicine prices were heavily discounted by the government. Things like birth control pills were made available, usually for free, for Iraqi women. Kids were vaccinated door-to-door by the government. Medical care reached 97% of the urban population and 71% of the rural population. Mortality rate was 50/1000 LB, infant mortality was 40/1000 LB. Hospitals were built in every city and the Iraqi healthcare system was known to be of very high quality, Iraq was actually about to gain developed country status, versus being a developing country. Additionally, a committee that answers to Saddam himself was initiated to evaluate cases that needed medical attention outside the country, and patients were flown to destination countries and treated all on the government's expense.
Back when Saddam ruled there was also a greater freedom of religion. Christians were allowed to practice openly. Western missionaries were generally tolerated and enjoyed a great deal of protection. Saddam's best friend Tariq Aziz who was Christian served as the foreign minister then deputy prime minister.
All of these luxuries are now gone and no longer available to what's left of the citizens of Iraq. And by no means am I saying that Saddam was a 'perfect' ruler as he was not evidently shown by the inhumane chemical attack against the Kurds. But I still strongly believe that Saddam was the reason Iraq thrived and developed.
My point was that Saddam is brought up a lot as a 'ruthless' dictator who didn't care about anything but money and power, however this is is not the case, as he cared for Iraq greatly and this is shown when he made education obligatory and complimentary. Furthermore, a number of schools were built in every city, and at least one was built in every village in the country. He also strengthened the Iraqi economy when he nationalised oil. Saddam also helped the poor and middle-class families, especially government employees who were given small pieces of land for them to build houses on, which was complimented by loans specifically tailored for that purpose. Houses and apartments were also given to gifted students and college professors. Every student that graduated from University would be gifted a brand new car.
Basic healthcare was free for everyone, and generally dirt cheap for anything that requires more than a simple visit to the doctor. Medicine prices were heavily discounted by the government. Things like birth control pills were made available, usually for free, for Iraqi women. Kids were vaccinated door-to-door by the government. Medical care reached 97% of the urban population and 71% of the rural population. Mortality rate was 50/1000 LB, infant mortality was 40/1000 LB. Hospitals were built in every city and the Iraqi healthcare system was known to be of very high quality, Iraq was actually about to gain developed country status, versus being a developing country. Additionally, a committee that answers to Saddam himself was initiated to evaluate cases that needed medical attention outside the country, and patients were flown to destination countries and treated all on the government's expense.
Back when Saddam ruled there was also a greater freedom of religion. Christians were allowed to practice openly. Western missionaries were generally tolerated and enjoyed a great deal of protection. Saddam's best friend Tariq Aziz who was Christian served as the foreign minister then deputy prime minister.
All of these luxuries are now gone and no longer available to what's left of the citizens of Iraq. And by no means am I saying that Saddam was a 'perfect' ruler as he was not evidently shown by the inhumane chemical attack against the Kurds. But I still strongly believe that Saddam was the reason Iraq thrived and developed.
