Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was an Iraqi Socialist politician who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003. As leading member of the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, and later, the Ba'ath Party—Saddam implemented the most extensive welfare program in the middle east; there was free healthcare and free education, hospitals and schools were built to make it accessible to more people. Electricity and running water was brought to even the most remote areas of the country. Wages were increased, food was affordable, free TVs and refrigerators were given to the poor. (Saddam Hussein received a UNESCO award for improving living standards of his people).

He rebuilt the country after most of the infrastructure was destroyed by the bombing in 1991 (Despite Iraq being the most sanctioned country). A famine was successfully avoided, by distributing food well and while there was a big decrease in living standards from the sanctions and a lot of people died due to certain essentials not being able to be imported, the best studies done recently have shown not nearly as many children died as was previously thought.

Womens' rights in Ba'athist Iraq were among the best in the region; women got equal pay, job discrimination based on gender was banned, women were able to choose their husbands instead of having arranged marriages. The Ba'athists diversified the economy to make it less reliant on oil, the country developed heavy industry; steel plants, chemical plants etc. were built. Light industry was developed as well as increasing agricultural production.

Internationally, they funded Palestinian resistance fighters, took in Palestinian refugees, hit Israel with thirty-nine scud missiles, helped Vietnam with oil and loans (the loans were all forgiven) as well as offering to give $94 million to poor Americans.

ESTJ personality types are the pragmatic organisers, they like to get things done and done properly. They have little time for anything ethereal, woolly or conceptual preferring facts, figures, plans and procedures. These are the action-oriented characters who cut to the car chase and move quickly to completion, taking the least circuitous route, A-Z no deviation. The strength of the ESTJ is the desire, and ability, to adopt a decisive stance, take charge and get the job done which makes them 'natural' leaders whom others will readily follow.

ESTJs are built to project manage, which is why they are often found in Operations type roles, quickly weighing up the situation, setting targets and marshalling the resources to make sure the job is done - on time and within budget. The ESTJ has a strong work ethic and this includes loyalty to the cause - whatever that cause is. This desire to get things done may mean that they ignore the niceties, the softer issues as they tend not to be so well-tuned in to how other people are feeling. There is a strong competitive edge to the ESTJ, and a need to assume control and this can often make it difficult for others to deflect them from their chosen course of action. The ESTJ simply wants to get on and get things done. Formal and structured the ESTJ works best when everyone is clear as to the ground-rules, (the ESTJ will happily create them if they are lacking). Practical planners, ESTJs are factual, accurate, detailed and process driven the ESTJ will bring order, structure and focus to their environment.

Their ability to jump in and take charge can, however, become a weakness as the ESTJ will follow the traditional, tried-and-tested route, and may want to dive in quickly, get their hands dirty and ignore the advice of those who may want to reflect or try a different approach. This can mean the ESTJ will be traditional and often quite conservative in their approach, preferring the known to experimenting or trying a more novel, creative approach so they may not always adapt well to change, and indeed if pushed hard can make formidable opponents to any new order. For the ESTJ change must make logical sense and ‘if it ain’t broke then why fix it?’ ESTJs thrive on order and continuity. ESTJs are traditional and hierarchical, they exude work ethic. Power, position and prestige should be worked for and earned. Laziness is viewed with scorn and the credo is ‘If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!’

The desire to ‘do’ can also make the ESTJ very present focused and so they may not necessarily appreciate how such present actions may impinge on the future nor do they excel at predicting or anticipating future trends or forecasting as they are keen to make quick decisions and are built to get to closure as quickly as possible in order to get the job done. So, the ESTJ may rush in without stopping to consider the full range of options open as their prime focus will be to get on with it and as such they may be difficult to budge. They plan with logic and objectivity, relying on empirical evidence and data rather than emotions. If something needs to be planned, organised followed-through then the ESTJ is the person to do it.

ESTJs are factual, accurate, detailed and process driven the ESTJ will bring order, structure and focus to their environment. Being extraverted, their focus involves organisation of people, tasks, processes, etc which all translates into “management.” While ENTJs enjoy organising and mobilising people according to their own ideas, ESTJs are content to enforce ‘the rules,’ often dictated by tradition or handed down from a higher authority, if a job needs to be done, (‘done’ being the operative word), then leave it to an ESTJ. The extravert side also means they will have little trouble letting everyone know exactly where they stand. They tend to dislike sloppiness or mess and engender order and discipline within projects, teams and situations. Emotional arguments or pleading won’t work as only hard facts and logical reasoning ‘compute’ with the ESTJ.