Security organization of Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein, given that he rose to office through such methods, was concerned with the threat of coups and assassination attempts, and built a complex security organization to protect him. Parts of the security organization also dealt with extremely sensitive matters such as weapons of mass destruction.

Essentially, there were five rings of protection, ranging from personal bodyguards to large formations capable of putting down military coups. The innermost rings were headed by persons of family or clan loyalty, but, even so, the organizations were split and cross-checked one another.