Original sentence: -led forces.A rising star in the revolutionary Ba'ath Party, which espoused secular pan-Arabism, economic modernization, and socialism, Saddam (see  regarding names) played a key role in the bloodless 1968 coup that brought the party to power.As president, he developed a pervasive personality cult, ran an authoritarian government, and maintained power through the devastating Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) and the first Persian Gulf War (1991), which both corresponded with a sharp decline in living standards and the human rights situation.As vice president under the frail and elderly General Ahmed Bakr, Saddam tightly controlled conflict between government departments and the armed forces at a time when many organizations were considered capable of overthrowing the government by forging a repressive security apparatus.Captured by U.Meanwhile, Iraq's economy grew at a rapid pace in the 1970s.Saddam Hussein's government, in particular, engaged in hard repression of movements that it deemed threatened his rule, as well as of ethnic groups that sought independence or autonomy.forces on December 13, 2003, he will stand trial under the new Iraqi government set up by U
Edited sentence: A leader in the revolutionary Ba'ath Party, which espoused secular pan-Arabism, economic modernization, and socialism, Saddam (see  regarding names) played a key role in the 1968 coup that brought the party to power.As president, he developed a pervasive personality cult, ran an authoritarian government, and maintained power through the devastating Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988) and the first Persian Gulf War (1991).As vice president under the frail and elderly General Ahmed Bakr, Saddam asserted his authority by taking strong control of the country through a developed security system.Saddam Hussein's government, in particular, engaged in hard repression of internal movements that he deemed a threat to his rule, as well as of ethnic groups that sought independence or autonomy, most specifically the Kurds and the Shiites.Saddam was Captured by U.forces on December 13, 2003, he will stand trial under the Iraq Special Tribunal for crimes against humanity, set up by the new Iraqi government with US assistance