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Article: Saddam a clever, defensive strategist who rules through fear.
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- March 17, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Gregory Katz
LONDON _ Now comes crunch time for Saddam Hussein, a thuggish leader from humble beginnings who learned early on that murder and intimidation were vital tools for anyone daring to govern Iraq.
Saddam, who has ruled over Iraq's feuding tribes and competing faiths since 1979, is an uncanny survivor who has weathered repeated coup attempts and bloody divisions within his clan and the armed forces. He has spent more than a decade in the crosshairs of the CIA and other intelligence agencies without losing his iron grip on power.
He has been both a valued ally of the United States _ whose leaders at first saw him as a crucial ...