MANIFESTO


uday and qusay and abed and izzat and ali and saadoung and tareq and taha and iyad and naji and taha
 
uday hussein


sadam and qusai hussein

 

UDAY SADDAM HUSSEIN: Saddam's oldest son holds a seat in parliament and runs Iraq's largest newspaper, Babil, and a children's TV network. For many years, Uday was the heir apparent, but five years ago he lost favour with his father in a bloody family rift that led to the defection of the Iraqi leader's two sons-in-law to Jordan. Uday is well known among Iraqis as a playboy whose extravagant lifestyle and violent reputation has won him little popular support. Iraqi opposition groups say Qusay's was given additional powers after Uday was partly paralysed in an assassination attempt in 1996.

QUSAI SADDAM HUSSEIN: Uday's little brother. At the age of 33 he is now the second most important man in Iraq, Qusay is responsible for the military, intelligence and security services in Iraq. These include organizations such as the Special Security Organization (SSO)-one of the most secretive organizations in Iraq-which is responsible for hiding Dad's nuclear weapons. Qusay and Uday are rivals, with a poisonous dislike of each other. Unlike Uday, Qusay is less a playboy than just plain old ruthless.


 

ABED HAMEED HMOUD: Personal secretary and former bodyguard who's considered closest to Saddam after his sons. Supervised the masking of Iraq's secret weapons stash.

IZZAT IBRAHIM: The 60-year-old has survived several top-level purges. Has presided over tribunals that tried Saddam's opponents — and sentenced them to death. His daughter is married to Saddam's son Uday.

ALI HASSAN AL-MAJID: The former defense minister and first cousin is called Chemical Ali after putting down a Kurdish rebellion in 1988 with a chemical weapons attack that killed thousands. He ordered the murder of his nephew, Lt. Gen. Hussein Kamel al-Majid — Saddam's son-in-law — who defected to Jordan in 1995 but returned thinking all was forgiven.

SAADOUN HAMMADI: Parliament speaker was once prime minister who advocated sweeping government reforms. Removed after seven months in office in 1991 and was on the outs with Saddam until 1995. Since making it back to the inner circle, has shown none of old zeal for reform.

 


uday hussein

 


tariq aziz

 

 

TAREQ AZIZ: Deputy prime minister is sole Christian in Iraq's leadership, and Saddam's frequent spokesman. Fiercely loyal, he joined the Baath Party in 1957, working closely with Saddam to overthrow British-imposed monarchy.

TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN: The Iraqi veep headed a trial in 1970 that executed 44 officers for plotting to overthrow Saddam. Not popular with Islamists: In 1980s visit to Jordan, he said it was okay for radical Muslims to follow their faith, "but if they try to harm the Baathist regime or ridicule its slogans, the regime will break their necks!"


GEN. IYAD FUTIYEH AL-RAWI: Former chief of staff and Republican Guard commander now heads the Fedayeen Saddam paramilitary force. Awarded 27 medals during 1980-88 war with Iran.


NAJI SABRI: Foreign minister since 2001, he led failed negotiations with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan last year for return of weapons inspectors to Iraq.

TAHA MUHIE-ELDIN MAROUF: The only Kurd in the Baath hierarchy has been a veep since 1975. Has little real power.