When your people are dying of disease due to lack of medicine, believe me, things are not so good. No leader needs that kind of unrest. And before the Gulf War, Saddam didn't need those "competitors". Iraq, along with Israel, was the regional superpower.
BTW, since you noticed, who do you think caused all of these "erstwhile competitors" (putting it mildly, hated enemies would be more accurate) to fall head over heels for Saddam?
LOL! As if he cares. This is the same guy who gassed "his people" and who continues to brutally repress them through his secret police. In this brief exchange, you and I have already spent more time thinking about the welfare of "his people" than Saddam has in his entire career.
"...who do you think caused all of these "erstwhile competitors" (putting it mildly, hated enemies would be more accurate) to fall head over heels for Saddam?
I'm sure I'll regret this, but I'll bite anyway: who? Just please spare me the "it's the fault of cruel and senseless Imperialism on the part of the US, stuff," ok?