7. His Iraqi Government Announced They Would Donate $94million To Poor Americans In 2001
In one of the most bizarre public announcements in history, Saddam Hussein declared in January 2001 that his government would donate $94million (£63million) to Americans living in poverty. Notifying the United Nations of their decision to aid the Americans, Hussein explained that he wanted to help poor Americans in the same way he had assisted Palestinians by giving them £700million in support. It appears as though despite Hussein having ruled over a country with a poverty rate of more than 50%, he wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Gulf War by sending humanitarian aid to American's inner cities and rural poor at a time that new President George W Bush was cutting government aid. Hussein was bold and daring, that much is for certain, but he was brilliant with propaganda.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
In one of the most bizarre public announcements in history, Saddam Hussein declared in January 2001 that his government would donate $94million (£63million) to Americans living in poverty. Notifying the United Nations of their decision to aid the Americans, Hussein explained that he wanted to help poor Americans in the same way he had assisted Palestinians by giving them £700million in support. It appears as though despite Hussein having ruled over a country with a poverty rate of more than 50%, he wanted to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Gulf War by sending humanitarian aid to American's inner cities and rural poor at a time that new President George W Bush was cutting government aid. Hussein was bold and daring, that much is for certain, but he was brilliant with propaganda.