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| Iraq: Historical Reference and Overview of the life of the Iraqi people, over the past 12 years. I've noticed that many, many, MANY people actually have no idea about Iraq or it's history or it's people, and some can't even find it on a map. Most people I have asked, have said all types of things. "
Isn't that where Sadamm Hussein lives? " Many people even wonder how Sadamm Hussein came to power. Therfore, here's a little bit of information about the history of Iraqi leadership, as well as some factual information about the country itself....
During its long and tumoultous history Iraq and the lands that have compromised it through the ages have been under the control of many rulers. However since the inception of the modern Iraqi state in 1921 only eight men have held the highest postion in the land.
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King
Feisal I was born in 1885 in Ta'if (in today's western Saudi Arabia). He was a
leader of the British backed Arab rebellion initiated by his father, Sherrif Hussien
of Mecca against the Ottoman Empire dring the First World War. After assuming
power for a short period in neighbouring Syria, the young Sherrif Feisal was established
as the King of the newely created Iraqi Kingdom in 1921.He ruled till his death
in 1933. 
The
eldest son of Feisal, Ghazi was born in Hijaz in 1912. His reign was only to last
for some five and a half years, ended as it was by his mysterous death in April
of 1939. 
The
only son of King Ghazi, King Feisal II was about four when his father died. For
that reason the regency was assumed by his uncle 'Abdul Ilah (from April 1939
- May 1953). The young King and most of his family including the regent were killed
in the revolutiob that occured on morning of 14th July 1958. 
General
'Abdul Karim Qaism was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, which
was proclaimed on the 14th of July 1958. He was also killed, this time in a coup
on the 8th of February 1963. 
The
1963 change of power brought in at the helm an old associate of the ex-Prime Minister,
and the prime mover behind the military movements that affected the 1958 revolution,
'Abd Al-Sallam 'Arif. The reign of President 'Arif was to end on 15th of April
1966 in helicopter accident.
The
Ba'athist officer, Ahmed Hassan Al-Bakr (1916-1982), was proclaimed president
on that fatefull mid-July day. By the 30th of July other possible contenders to
power were either purged or in some way weakened. Al-Bakr was to carry on as President
till 17th of July 1979, where he stepped down, citing "bad health" as an excuse,
in favour of his Vice President Saddam Hussien. Al-Bakr died in 1982. 
Saddam
Hussien was born in the village of Al-'Ouja in 1937. His eventual assumption of
the Presidency in 1979, followed an ever increasing role as Vice President. He
has plunged Iraq into its darkest times with two disastorous foreign wars (against
Iran 1980-88 and the invasion of Kuwait and subsequent Second Gulf War 1990-91),
as well as what is thought to be the most oppressive internal security apparatus
in the world.