10. Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was the president of Iraq for over two decades, and was the Middle Eastern state’s leader when the Gulf War broke out. He was notorious for instigating the deaths of thousands of Kurds, Shabaks, Assyrians, Mandeans and other ethnic groups who rose up against him. He led the conflict with neighboring countries, including the invasion of Kuwait which led to the Gulf War where the United States became involved. His war on Kuwait and Iraq, as well as the atrocities he committed, claimed the lives of about 2 million people. He spent over nine years of hiding until his capture in 2003. He was executed in 2006.
