As I stated more than once I didn't reject the possibility of limited and tenuous cooperation with Hussein, however, I disagree that only people of certain "ilk" get in bed with the devil when opportunity suits them.
Heck, the U.S. allied with Bin Laden in Afghanistan, Hussein against Iran, and with the two greatest mass murderers of the 20th century (Mao and Stalin) in WWII.
My main point, is that any "links" are merely a pretext for any invasion not the main cause.
I also would urge you to remember another "lesson of history" e.g. the law of unintended consequences. To quote, Hayek....grand social engineering projects, such as the attempt to police the planet, have unintended and disasterous consequences which no one can predict or anticipate. You call it "failure to learn from history." It is far more complicated, indeed far more natural, than that.
Don't worry. I am confident that you will get your war. Five years from now, please do me a favor, however. Don't brush off the disasterous consequences with the excuse that we yet again "failed to learn from the lessons of history."
I hope you heard Cheney's speech today.
It isn't policing the world; it's protecting America and America's vital national interests. There's a big difference. There are certain rogue nations in this world that, for our own protection, we cannot and must not let develop nukes. That should be obvious.