"I am but one man"—
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January 1, 1962
Iraq , Baghdad
When news of the civil strife took to the international stage , the world powers became shocked, at least most were. The great players who had already known about the political affairs of Iraq had already chosen sides and that side was not that of Soldat.
Soldat knew this, as he knew that there were many foreign forces within his country relaying information to their masters and committing acts of treachery to weaken and then monopolize their country through their political agents.
Such an example was their support for Ali Salih. They thought Ali had the upper hand with their support and his greater numbers to combat any opposing parties and they were wrong, detrimentally wrong.
There was one thing that they overlooked and it was the preparation that Soldat made for this particular outcome , they had underestimated how meticulous and deadly he truly was.
Soldat was ready and even so when the rebels realized their planned rebellion was killed in its crib on January 5, 1962. The Infantry division under Soldat's control killed over 1500 militants and detained over 23,000 more including the rebel party's ringleaders and the main man Ali Salih.
Ali Salih's trial was broadcasted nationwide , even outsiders witnessed the moment of the man's demise.
The traitor was tried for numerous counts of assault and torture, racketeering, murder, sexual assault, bribery , treason against the Iraqi state along with numerous other charges.
He along with 134 of his ring leaders were hanged and the foot soldiers were given some clemency , with many being given short prison sentences depending on their offenses while others were given from 15 - 50 years for their criminal acts.
And amidst the chaos of the civil war. The then president and military commander of the Iraqi forces had stepped down giving all powers and rights to Soldat.
Many wondered if it was under threat or blackmail and many would never get the answer to such a question all that was known was that he had peacefully resigned from his post giving his own soldiers orders to surrender to Soldat's own.
Now being President and supreme leader of Iraq and leader of the reconstituted Iraqi Baath party Soldat Hussein instantly made changes that would change the dynamics of Iraq and its economy going forward.
There wasn't much in Iraq as in mineral resources that was for sure but there were many great lands for agriculture and industrial production .
Nonetheless amongst all this Iraq had the second best resource of this world which was Crude oil and the first being its hardy people.
But the oil industry and equipment of Iraq which were earlier nationalized by Qasim and later taken over by Arif were old and were in dire need of modernization which Qasim had planned to change before his untimely death .
Soldat understood that old equipment limited the production of oil and less oil means less money , so he needed Investors, investors for improving Oil refineries and drills, such endeavors would cost billions for Iraq and to buy such equipment and training personnel to use such equipment would cost even more. Even now they barely had any money to enact numerous large scale changes across the country. Previously the Iraqi oil Company which was owned by the British managed to take as many funds as they could during the revolt against the monarchy.
Now under a new regime Iraq needed to find good investors it could turn to . Even with the recurring dislike with the Iraqi communist party. The Soviet Union was always willing to give a hand in Iraq's development as it granted them cheaper oil. Britain was a no , the Iraqi government much less Soldat wouldn't even entertain such a Idea. France was willing , even dozens of wealthy companies and private investors were interested, but there was only one nation that he was looking forward to for major investments.
And that was the USA. Even with their attempts to overthrow him and his party, he understood the dynamics of global geopolitics and he understood that in such an profession one had to work with the snakes at every turn , a risk that he was willing take if it developed Iraq into how he imagined it to be. Of course he hadn't forgotten about the scar they made on his country and they will and shall be repaid in full, but the times for such actions were not now. This was the time for reconciliation and rebuilding.
America was driven by one thing, and one thing only, Profit! So was the rest of the world . It was a kill or be killed game , and If he took advantage of their weakness for greed he'd have his hands in their pockets . If they denied him then the soviet union was always welcoming to help with dozens of private investors.
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Broadcast on January 6, 1962
Soldat Hussein's Speech
"I know… I know some of you are scared , surprised, confused ,…. tired and angry. Angry at the state of our great nation… angry at its incompetent leaders who only care about power and control more so than they care about your very wellbeing. But I'm here to tell you that such a time is over! The infection which has plagued Iraq for so long has been cut out and destroyed. Going forward by Allah's will we shall build this country beyond the imaginations of all those who see us as mere puppets and serfs."
"Yes… There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy , that enemy which is division amongst ourselves , amongst our own , whether through religion, social class … or political beliefs , but now we must set aside such issues now is the time to come together as one and prove to the world our worth and show them how great Iraq can be , to create an empire that would span all of Pan Arabia as in the old days. An empire that stood for thousands of years!"
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