In Iraq in 2003, a dramatic exodus was unfolding. Saddam Hussein, the former iron-fisted ruler, now dressed as a pauper and with a scruffy beard, tries to hide his identity and past glory in war-torn Iraq. It's a tale of power, betrayal, and stealth, as Saddam Hussein used his last fortune to weave a dense web of escapes, trying to find a chance of survival surrounded by his pursuers.
This escape is not only a struggle for confrontation and survival, but also a race against time. During the eight months he was on the run, Saddam Hussein had to change hideouts every eight days on average, from dusty country houses to inconspicuous abandoned buildings in the city, and every movement was fraught with danger and uncertainty. How did Saddam Hussein change his hiding place so frequently without being detected under the noses of many pursuers? Where was that huge amount of money spent?
Iraq's Golden Age
In Iraq in the 70s of the 20th century, the country quickly became an economic miracle in the Middle East as oil revenues surged. Oil exports have brought unprecedented wealth to the country, and the government has used these resources to invest in various infrastructure and social welfare projects domestically to improve the living standards of the population.
The urban landscape of Iraq changed dramatically during this period. Major cities such as Baghdad, Basra and Mosul are thriving with new apartment and office towers. Attention has been paid to urban planning, and the construction of new roads and bridges has reduced traffic pressure and improved urban mobility. During this period, the government also paid special attention to the development of education and medical care, and a large number of schools and hospitals were built or upgraded to ensure that citizens had access to free and high-quality education and medical services.
The policy of free education has led to a significant reduction in illiteracy in Iraq, and more and more children have access to school. Institutions of higher education have also been expanded and expanded, producing a large number of technical and professional personnel for the country. The health sector has also received significant government investment, with new hospitals and clinics spread across the country, providing a wide range of medical services, including vaccinations, disease treatment and emergency services.
The establishment and improvement of the old-age welfare system has guaranteed the basic life of the elderly, so that they can still enjoy decent and comfortable living conditions after retirement. In addition, the government provides low-cost housing and subsidy programs to help low-income families improve their living conditions.
Cars have become a luxury item accessible to the average family, and almost every household can afford to own at least one car. This not only changes the way people travel, but also symbolizes the improvement of the country's overall economic level and people's quality of life. On the streets, a wide range of cars have become part of the cityscape, from budget cars to more luxurious imported models, reflecting the prosperity and diversity of all segments of society.
During this period, Iraq also actively expanded trade and cultural exchanges with other countries in the world, further opened its markets, and attracted a large amount of foreign investment. International exhibitions and cultural festivals are held in Iraq and attract exhibitors and tourists from all over the world. Iraq's arts and culture also developed significantly during this period, with films, music and literature reflecting the diversity and vitality of society.
However, it all seems to have been built on the sand. Iraq's economy is overly dependent on oil exports, and when international oil prices fluctuate, the country's economy suffers significantly.
Saddam Hussein and the United States: A Complex Relationship
The ascension of Saddam Hussein to power is a moment of hope and challenge for Iraq. Iraq received U.S. assistance in the early years of his rule, and this external support hastened to some extent the country's infrastructure and socio-economic development. Using funds and technology from the United States, Iraq strengthened its military and economic position in the Middle East, thus becoming one of the important allies of the United States in the Middle East during the Cold War.
U.S. assistance to Iraq includes economic assistance, military training, and arms supplies. This includes not only the modernization of the Iraqi army, but also the provision of agricultural, educational and medical support to improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people. However, Saddam's policies were not entirely influenced or controlled by the United States. He has shown great autonomy and hopes to enhance Iraq's international status and influence through his strategies and decisions.
Saddam's ambitions go beyond maintaining Iraq's status as a regional power. He seeks to further expand his influence, particularly by strengthening Iraq's economic and military power by controlling more oil resources. This ambition led him to covet Kuwait, which is rich in oil resources and a key player in the global oil market. Saddam Hussein believed that by taking control of Kuwait, Iraq would not only significantly increase its oil revenues, but also enhance its political position in the Middle East and even in the world.
On 2 August 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered Iraqi forces to invade Kuwait, an action that immediately provoked a strong reaction from the international community. The United States and its allies quickly condemned Iraq's aggression and, through the UN Security Council, formed an international coalition aimed at expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
In January 1991, the U.S.-led coalition launched a military operation against Iraq, a war known as the Gulf War. Coalition air strikes first destroyed Iraq's air defenses and military infrastructure, followed by a rapid ground offensive that eventually forced Iraqi troops to withdraw from Kuwait.
The Gulf War took a huge toll on Iraq, not only militarily devastating, but also economically struggling as a result of the war and subsequent international sanctions. Many industrial facilities and infrastructure in Iraq have been destroyed, resulting in a significant drop in productivity. At the same time, international sanctions have restricted the export of Iraqi oil, which is the main source of national revenue, further exacerbating the economic recession.
2003: The collapse of power
On 7 April 2003, the Iraqi regime under Saddam Hussein faced an unprecedented crisis as U.S. tanks and armoured vehicles steadily advanced along the dusty highway toward the heart of Baghdad. Baghdad, the once-bustling metropolis of the Middle East, is now rife with war tensions and harbingers of unease. Iraq's elite force, the Republican Guard, which had long been seen as the backbone of Saddam's regime, had been crushed by successive air strikes and ground warfare. Many Guards soldiers abandoned their weapons and changed into civilian clothing in an attempt to flee the war zone in the chaos.
In this case, even Saddam's most loyal personal bodyguards and bodyguards chose to leave. Many of them realized that as the coalition forces continued to advance, it would be tantamount to suicide to remain with Saddam. The inner circle of the regime is beginning to crumble, and some senior officials are looking for escape opportunities, trying to contact the U.S. military in exchange for their own safety and that of their families.
Saddam Hussein, the leader who had ruled Iraq with an iron fist for years, found himself increasingly isolated. Once-loyal generals and cronies have dispersed, leaving him alone in an increasingly unstable regime. Although he tried to mobilize the Iraqi people through television and radio, calling on them to resist the foreign aggressors, these efforts pale in the face of the pressure of war.
The American offensive did not meet with the expected strong resistance. As they marched forward, the citizens of Baghdad were in a state of panic and waiting. Some fear that the upcoming fighting will bring more damage to their homeland, while others have a glimmer of hope for the end of Saddam's regime. The sporadic and unorganized resistance in the streets shows the desperation of the Iraqi army and the population for the war.
When the U.S. military finally entered downtown Baghdad, they found a city full of exhaustion and ruins. Government buildings were destroyed and the streets were littered with abandoned military equipment and burned vehicles. Portraits and statues of Saddam Hussein were toppled down to symbolize the end of this war.
Saddam's flight and profligacy
As the war was about to reach its climax, he ordered the withdrawal of at least $1 billion worth of cash from Iraq's central bank, an act that was almost unprecedented. The money, which consisted of $920 million and 90 million euros, was transferred to several safe locations controlled by Saddam Hussein and his cronies in order to finance their fugitive lives.
In the early days of his escape, Saddam Hussein abandoned his trademark Italian designer suit and wore traditional Arabic robes and turbans to blend in with the common people as much as possible in order to avoid being quickly recognized. This outfit is extremely common in Iraq and can help him reduce the likelihood of attracting attention while fleeing. In addition, Saddam Hussein also grew long hair and beard to further disguise his identity and try to hide himself in the chaos of war and chaos.
In the process of fleeing, Saddam Hussein used this huge amount of money to pay high "accommodation fees" to individuals or families who were willing to provide hiding places. These 'accommodations' range from humble houses in remote villages to nondescript dwellings in cities, each carefully selected for safety and privacy. Saddam Hussein and the few cronies who accompanied him moved frequently between multiple hiding places to avoid being tracked and located.
Although Saddam Hussein tried to evade capture in this way, he still had to face growing internal and external pressure. U.S. forces and the Iraqi interim government have intensified their pursuit of him, using a variety of intelligence resources and ground operations to narrow the search. At the same time, Saddam Hussein had to constantly use the fleeing funds he carried in order to maintain a minimum of living and mobility, which also made his whereabouts easier to trace.
Saddam's behavior during his flight shows his dedication to survival in the midst of despair. However, even this huge amount of money for the escape did not provide him with long-term security. The large disbursement of funds attracted the attention of some and increased the risk of him being discovered. And, as time went on, the safety of his hiding place became more and more difficult to guarantee, and Saddam's life on the run became more and more difficult.
Closure and reflection
During his escape in 2003, Saddam Hussein's whereabouts became an international mystery. He frequently changed hiding locations throughout Iraq, from deserted rural huts to confined spaces in cities, and every transfer was carried out with extreme caution and secrecy. Despite this, through precise intelligence work and ground searches, the U.S. military and United Nations forces finally succeeded in locating Saddam Hussein hidden in an underground cave near a small town called Adwar on December 13 of the same year.
At the time of Saddam's arrest, he had far less cash with him than he had brought with him at the beginning of his escape. As a result of the investigation, the US military found about $900 million in cash hidden in various locations during the subsequent search operation, most of which were related to Saddam's cronies or places where he had hid. However, the whereabouts of nearly $100 million compared to the total amount of money originally withdrawn from the central bank remain an unsolved mystery.
During his eight-month fugitive career, Saddam Hussein had to use the funds to keep him on the run, including paying exorbitant "lodging fees" to those who provided him with temporary hiding places. These expenses are not only used to buy food, clothing and necessary household items, but also to those who provide him with information, transportation and other support for his escape. In addition to this, consider that in the chaos of post-war Iraq, large sums of money may have been used to bribe local tribal leaders or security forces to ensure their silence or assistance.
At the moment of Saddam's arrest, he was left with a very small amount of cash and some simple household items, which was in stark contrast to the luxurious life he once had. His capture not only marked the end of Saddam's decades-long rule, but also revealed some of the mysteries surrounding the use of funds during his fugitive career.
Although post-capture interrogations and investigations have attempted to uncover the whereabouts of the nearly $100 million in funds, it is still difficult to fully trace the exact whereabouts of the funds in the context of war and political turmoil. Some may have been used to secure Saddam's movements, some may have flowed into the networks that supported him, and others may have been squandered in the chaos.
"The same fugitive, Saddam Hussein only found out after more than 200 days, and Gaddafi only escaped for 60 days and was killed?"