How did Saddam Hussein come to power?

[ComradeJunichi]

I was just wondering, and heard that the US helped Saddam Hussein get into power in Iraq. They also supported him in the murders of the Kurds.

[ComradeJunichi]

But HOW did he get to power, what did US do to help him get to power?

[Wash Me]

does he have power?
if he did wouldnt he have prevented all those bomb droppings from the us and the uk's airstrikes each year?

[MJM]

On July 16, 1979, President Bakr resigned, officially due to health problems, but in reality a victim of Hussein's political in-fighting. Moving quickly to consolidate his power, he called a major Baathist meeting on July 22, 1979. During the meeting, various family members and other Hussein devotees urged that the party be "cleansed". Hussein then read a list of names and asked that they step outside. Once there, they are taken into custody.

A high-ranking member of the Revolutionary Command, the head of the labor unions, the leading Shiite member of the Command, and twenty (20) others are then systematically and personally killed by Hussein and his top party officials. During the next few days, reports indicate that as many as 450 other military officers, deputy prime ministers, and "non-party faithful" were rounded up and killed. This purge insured Hussein's consolidation of power in Iraq.

From:
http://historyoftheworld.com/terror/iraq.htm

Probably not the most balanced view, but I imagine most of the info is true.

[Kalashnikov]

During the transition of power(1979)in Iraq the usa was having a hard time with Iran and the Muslim hard liners.

The usa suported Iraq against Iran during the 8 year war.Then a Colonel in the usa military was found selling weapons to Iran and helping contras in south america.
Iraq(Saddam) learned of this and turned his back on the us.
Iraq claimed Kuwait belongs to them.Kuwait asked for help-the usa being a bully decided to go in play the superman role-promised the Iraqi people help if they rose up.They rose but America was gone to leave them to fend for themselves.Now the people of Iraq are being starved due to sanction.