The only person that has ever helped me is me alone. I do my own thing and make my own way through life. I help others when I feel it is appropraite but only immediate family, which is only my mother really, or one or two close friends. If a person cannot survive on their own without the reliance of others then they are at fault.
That is how the real world works. If you rely too much on others you become a liability. If you cannot take care of yourself you become a parasite. I learn long ago if you are going to be anything in this life you have to do it yourself and not expect or take handouts.
Helping the weak will only keep them weak. However if they show the drive to better themselves on their own teaching them to be more self sufficient would be the next step. Problem is that the Iraqi people, as a whole, went limp and let the dictator rule them like he did. They deserved Saddam.