Reply #26: Could it be...

[pettypace]

..that Saddam was the closest thing to a "progressive" head of state in the Mideast? It must be noted that Saddam's regime was secular in comparison to the Islamic pillars that surrounded him. He was a US ally against the fundamentalist Iranian regime. He incurred the wrath of the US and the west for invading a fellow arab state - the genesis for his antipathy towards the US. Only hostile act perpetuated against the US was a purported assasination attempt against Bush I, and habitually shooting at US/UK war birds flying over his country's airspace (albeit violating the "no fly zones"). Becoming the center of Bush II's vendetta after scores of Saudis, Pakistanis, Egyptians concocted the Planes Operation of 2001. Yes Mr Bush, I think the lessons of September the 11th did not call for an ill-conceived ousting of the regime that kept Iraq together, and progressive in relative terms.