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Saddam Hussein (as other BAATH leaders) WAS a secularist and Westernizer. Just learn a little more modern history of the Middle East.

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.

I just don't buy that he was an enemy of the Islamists.

There may be Arab leaders who wish OBL would simply go away, but the Jihadists have NO enemies among fellow Muslims.

To think for a moment that when push comes to shove the ME Muslims of any stripe are going to side with us is delusional.

When Assad or Saddam Huddein had problem at most it was buried in small print.

Tell us about a major attack that the Islamists carried out against Hussein that was then buried in small print.

Hussein did not allow Islamists to organize on a large scale. He was keeping them under his thumb. But Assad razed down the whole pro-Islamists city once.