The late dictators Saddam Hussein and Moammar Gadhafi might have gained infamy and elicited hate for the various atrocities they committed to their own people, but for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, they would've made the Middle East more stable.
In an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper that aired Sunday on "State of the Union," Trump was asked if he thought the world would be a better place had the two dictators stayed in power and were not forced out of their positions through the intervention of the United States.
To this, the controversial business tycoon replied: "100 percent."
Trump further said he thinks Iraq would not be harbouring terrorists now if Saddam had been allowed to hold on to his post.
The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 ended Saddam's 23-year rule. He was executed in 2006 after being convicted of crimes against humanity.
"Look at Iraq. Iraq used to be no terrorists. He (Saddam) would kill the terrorists immediately, which is like now it's the Harvard of terrorism," the vocal business tycoon said.
"If you look at Iraq from years ago, I'm not saying he was a nice guy, he was a horrible guy, but it was a lot better than it is right now. Right now, Iraq is a training ground for terrorists," he added.
In the same manner, Trump believes the Libyan government would not have descended into chaos and anarchy if Gadhafi stayed in power.
"Right now Libya, nobody even knows Libya, frankly there is no Iraq and there is no Libya. It's all broken up. They have no control. Nobody knows what's going on," he said.
Gadhafi was removed from his post in 2011 following a violent civil strife. He died months after his ouster after he was captured by members of rebel forces that overthrew his regime.
Commenting on the human rights violations committed by the two dictators, Trump said the situation did not change, and even worsened, after the two were removed from power.
"They're worse than they ever were. People are getting their heads chopped off, they're being drowned. Right now, they are far worse than they were, ever, under Saddam Hussein or Gadhafi," Trump said.
