Oops, forgot one thing. Regarding your second sentence-this is really more for effect than anything as the sentence is fine. But you might try inserting a period instead of a comma for the last phrase:

2) So, be it Baathists or Saddamists, Communists or Malikists, they are all symptoms of one ailment. And that is corruption.

The short, punchy nature of the sentence punctuates your point. 
- Ben