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Late August, 1988 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is greeted with applause by the thousands of Iraqis in the centre of Baghdad as he declares Iraqi victory in the Iran - Iraq War of 1980 - 1988. The atmosphere is jubilant as President Hussein smiles under his black, Stalinesque moustache as the people chant his name and dance in the streets. He knows the truth however, the war has changed nothing, Iraq has not become the indisputed leader of the Arab world, Iraq has not gained any territory whatsoever. Had over a million people not died it would have been as if the war had never happened, well not entirely... ...the war had cost Iraq dearly, five hundred billion dollars in weaponry was spent the Israelis destroyed the costly Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak and Iraq owed over one hundred and thirty billion dollars to foreign creditors. One threat to President Hussein's rule was defeated, another was rearing it's head.
Saddam Hussein celebrating the Iraqi "triumph" over Iran in 1988.