You are attempting to interpret facts in such a way that they fit into your preconceived opinion. Saddam Hussein (as other BAATH leaders) WAS a secularist and Westernizer. Just learn a little more modern history of the Middle East.
Iraq was a regime which had socialist sympathies and which tended to be pro-Soviet. It had stronger hold on power as it mobilised more support among lower poorer classes. The countries who mentioned: "Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia" are the key pro-US countries - whenever they had problems with Islamists it was reported widely in US press.
When Assad or Saddam Huddein had problem at most it was buried in small print. Even when Algerian secularists who a pro-French and have huge problem with Islamic insurgents you hear very little about.
He was an admirer of Stalin and Hitler. Are you really suggesting he had Iraq on an enlightened path to liberty and peace?
I never said he wasn't "a secularist and Westernizer". I just don't buy that he was an enemy of the Islamists. History is full of instances where two factions, although having opposing philosophies, managed to form an alliance between them. This one is no different.
Iraq was a regime which had socialist sympathies and which tended to be pro-Soviet. It had stronger hold on power as it mobilised more support among lower poorer classes.
Yet inspite of having all that power, it was defeated in all of three weeks.
When Assad or Saddam Huddein had problem at most it was buried in small print.
So enlighten us. Tell us about a major attack that the Islamists carried out against Hussein that was then buried in small print.