Yet, like those other thuggish rulers, Saddam won not just fawningly insincere adulation but a surprising degree of support from his people.

• 然而，跟其他嗜杀成性的统治者一样，萨达姆赢得的并非只是虚情假意的阿谀奉承，他同样也赢得了人民的拥护，这着实让人感到意外。