Saddam Hussein

…on regional stability:

According to Palestinian Arab Liberation Front figures, his government actively supported the Palestinian intifada, and paid $25,000 to families of suicide bombers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2846365.stm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002...7004766310.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4294502.stm

The Iran: Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) began on Sept. 22, 1980, with an Iraqi land and air invasion of western Iran. Approximately 1,000,000 casualties.

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0825449.html

http://projects.sipri.se/cbw/resear...sheet-1984.html

…on a secular government:

His government opened hundreds of new mosques in the country and established a major new theological school called Saddam University. Mr. Hussein set out to create the largest mosque ever built – and had it named after him.

http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr108.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0520/p10s01-woiq.html

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...dad-mosques.htm

opinions of ordinary Iraqis following the removal of Saddam Hussein from power:

… 2004 “Most Iraqis are happier than they were before the US-led invasion, a nationwide opinion poll suggests.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3514504.stm

… 2005 “The latest survey of opinion in Iraq shows a degree of optimism at variance with the usual depiction of the country as one in total chaos.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4511688.stm

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Eudaimonia