Saddam helped plot and execute the 1968 coup that brought him to power. He acted as Vice President of Iraq (1968-1979), then President of Iraq (1979-2003).

His regime achieved incredible notoriety for ruthlessly crushing all opposition, as well as the routine and systematic torture and execution of political prisoners and enemies. His 1980 invasion of Iran sparked the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88) that ended in stalemate. He then attacked his own people with poison gas in 1988, resulting in thousands of deaths. Saddam held the dubious distinction of appearing in the Guinness Book of World Records, under the heading, "Highest death toll from a chemical warfare attack." His record was for the greatest number of people killed (estimated to be approximately 4,000) in a single chemical weapons attack. His invasion and destruction of Kuwait in 1990, precipitated the Persian Gulf War in January of 1991. Under the leadership of Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, coalition forces--comprised of many nations, and led by the United States--suffered fewer than 200 deaths, with Iraq's casualties numbering in the tens of thousands. Iraqi forces were quickly defeated and ejected from Kuwait.

After frequently violating the terms of the Gulf War's cease fire, and repeatedly interfering with UN weapon inspection teams, the U.S. led an invasion of Iraq in 2003. The Iraqi government and military collapsed within three weeks, and most major fighting was over in about a month. Saddam was taken into custody in December of 2003 by U.S. forces, and went on trial for numerous war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other offenses.

In November of 2006, Saddam Hussein was convicted and sentenced to hang for crimes against humanity. Following the verdict, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Malki said, "The verdict placed on the heads of the former regime does not represent a verdict for any one person. It is a verdict on a whole dark era that has was unmatched in Iraq's history." The Iraqi prime minister went on to say, "This ruler has committed the most horrible crimes. He executed the best scientists, academics and thinkers. The execution could partially appease the victims and stop tears of the widows and the orphans who were banned from holding wakes and ordered to bury their loved ones secretly." He added, "The Iraqi martyrs have now the right to smile."

December 30th, 2006, the man who was long despised and mistrusted by much of the Arab world, was executed by hanging. He had ruled Iraq with ruthless, deadly force and led his people into three devastating wars. Saddam met his end at an Iraqi compound known as Camp Justice, in the northern Baghdad suburb of Kadhimiya.