[Alberta's Child]

Let’s be brutally honest here. The dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about is that Saddam Hussein was far more effective at dealing with radical Muslims in Iraq than were the @ssholes in the U.S. government who invaded Iraq and toppled his government in 2003.

[gusopol3]

How would he have fared against the Arab Spring, even if all had remained locked in place from 10 + years ago? His army, already decrepit from sanctions 10 years ago, would have withstood ISIS or a push from Iran during the past ten years better than the current U.S. reinforced version? It was over and done with by ‘08, all Obama had to do was hold on to the gains.

[Olog-hai]

Saddam was a radical Muslim himself. He helped far more terrorists than hurt.

Palestinians Get Saddam Charity Checks: CBS News 2003

Saddam Hussein has distributed $260,000 to 26 families of Palestinians killed in 29 months of fighting with Israel, including a $10,000 check to the family of a Hamas suicide bomber. …

The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan: WSJ 2011

With Islamists thus amply represented in parliament, domestic considerations hampered the king’s (Hussein of Jordan) foreign-policy decision making. During the 1991 Gulf War, the king declared neutrality, while the Brotherhood backed Saddam Hussein. …

[Drew68]

The dirty little secret that nobody wants to talk about is that Saddam Hussein was far more effective at dealing with radical Muslims in Iraq than were the @ssholes in the U.S. government who invaded Iraq and toppled his government in 2003.

I agree. The invasion of Iraq was a mistake, I believe. Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11. Rumsfeld's disbanding of the Iraqi military as part of his 'de-Bathification" program was a further disaster.

I have no problem blaming Obama for his many failures but I can't in good conscience blame him for the mess that became of Iraq. Bush owns this one.

All this being said, Saddam's days were numbered regardless of what we did. When practically every family in Iraq knows someone who "disappeared" under Saddam's regime, change would be coming.

[kristinn]

Let's be brutally honest. Saddam Hussein harbored, trained and funded radical Muslim terrorists.

Saddam waged war on Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Israel and the United States.

Saddam waged genocidal wars on the Kurds and Marsh Arabs.

Saddam tried to assassinate a U.S. president.

I could go on but what's the point. Talking to a Saddam supporter is like talking to an Obama supporter.

[ReaganÜberAlles]

You’re full of shit.

[Jack Hydrazine]

And if the Feds had replaced Saddam with a pro-US, Muzzie tyrant who would have been just as brutal this wouldn’t be happening.