Iraq was controlled by strong-arm tactics from 1958. Abdul-Karim Qassim began the history by leading a military takeover because of the pro-West leanings of the monarchy. In 1963, Abdul-Salam Arif came to power after another takeover. He died in a helicopter accident in 1966 and his brother Abdul-Rahman Arif replaced him. In 1968, the Ba'athists lead a takeover and they made Ahmad Hassan al-Bakir Iraq's leader, but he was only a face man for Saddam Hussein, who ruled over Iraq formally when Ahmad stepped down in 1979. Saddam became King Kong in Iraqi politics because of how good he was at making offers people couldn't refuse, to turn a phrase. The Ba'ath elders thought he was a real superstar in the making and pulled every string they could to get him into the highest echelons of power. You have to give the elders credit, because clearly they had a good eye for talent. Saddam was no putz.
The Ba'athists were secular national socialists fiercely proud of their Arab-hood. Iraqis didn't hate everything about Saddam. They appreciated what he did for Iraq's place in the world. They were proud to be Iraqis because of Saddam. They didn't care for the terror tactics of the Ba'athists, but that's how they kept dissenters at bay.
You certainly attempt to paint all Iraqis with the same brush. Ask the Iraqi ghosts and their survivors from the mass graves if they hated anything about Saddam. Ask the ghosts of the shredders and their surviving families if they hated anything about Saddam. Ask the young victims of the rape rooms, ask the people who had their tongues cut out, their ears cut off how they felt about Saddam. Sadaam ruled the Ba'athists who did nothing without approval from him.
I am stuned at posting to another FReeper who is defending Sadaam's rule.