Saddam’s ⁣Ambition for the Presidency

Al-Azzawi stated that Saddam Hussein had been ​aspiring ​for ‌the presidency⁣ since 1975, especially since‌ Hassan al-Bakr was old and sick, while Saddam was young and had the charisma that qualified him to accept ‌the ​presidency.

The Role of Saddam in the Vice Presidency

Al-Azzawi focuses on the role Saddam⁤ played while vice president of the Republic, particularly ‍the signing of‍ a border agreement with the⁢ Shah of Iran, Muhammad Reza Pahlavi, under the patronage ‍of the late president of ⁤Algeria, Houari Boumediene, on⁣ March 6, ​1975.

In response to a question ⁤from Ahmed Mansour, host of the “Witness to the⁤ Edge” program, about Saddam’s agreement with the Shah that the Iranians would end their⁢ support for the Kurds in exchange ‌for the expulsion of the⁣ founder ⁣of the Islamic Republic of Iran,‌ Ayatollah Khomeini, al-Azzawi confirmed that Iraq did not ⁤expel Khomeini.

Khomeini’s Departure from Iraq

He added that Iraq embraced Khomeini when he came from Turkey⁣ and gave him freedom of movement, ⁢but after the agreement, he was asked ‍to stop⁢ his activities against Iran from Iraq, ⁣and when he did ⁢not comply, he was‌ asked to leave Iraq.

Khomeini was one of the main⁤ opponents ⁢of the Shah⁢ of Iran. He took refuge in‌ Iraq in September 1965 and moved‌ to Paris, the capital of France,⁢ until October 1978.

The former Iraqi intelligence ⁣director noted in his testimony that⁤ “Khomeini’s departure from​ Iraq to Paris was ⁣one ⁢of Iraq’s biggest ⁢mistakes at the time,” because Iraq was⁤ supposed to contain him so that he would remain the tip of the spear through which interests were protected.

International ​Conspiracy

In ⁢explaining why ⁣the United States and France allowed the establishment of a sectarian Islamic regime⁣ under‌ Khomeini in Iran, al-Azzawi quoted US National‌ Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who said that‌ “the best thing to do is create a real barrier⁤ between the Soviet Union and⁣ the oil-rich‌ Arab countries by fueling religious conflict in the region.”

In the same context, he ‌described the Sunni-Shia conflict⁤ in the region as “an international conspiracy in ‌which Israel participates”.

Saddam’s ‍Rise to Power

It is ‌noteworthy that⁤ in⁢ July 1979, Saddam took ⁤over and became President of the Republic, Chairman of the ⁢Revolutionary ‍Command Council, and Commander-in-Chief of⁣ the Armed Forces, accused of conspiracy against the party and the ⁣state.

Regarding this file, Saddam’s intelligence director confirmed in his⁣ testimony on the “Witness to the ⁤Edge”​ program ⁤that the cadres who⁣ were executed⁤ for conspiracy and were not very numerous, were ​”applauding the unity state between Iraq and Syria, and Hassan al-Bakr’s was encouraging the⁢ regime to continue.”