How was Saddam Hussein "not so bad after all"? He was Sunni, which means he and the others believe their leaders are born to that position, so there's no chance of one being elected. Also, how did he treat people? Pretty effing badly, I'd say.
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gained notoriety for murdering thousands of his own people. Read about some of his most heinous crimes.
www.thoughtco.com
Of course he was all of the things you said above but hindsight is important to prevent future mistakes.
Given the chaos that is now Iraq post 2003, the lives lost in the last 20 years including our killed and maimed troops, and the trillions spent by taxpayers. Its requires study.
America literally destroyed Iraq and then rebuild it at great cost.
Estimates of 1.5 million Iraqis died in the conflict. Saddam killed @ 25 thousand Kurds and probably @60 thousand Shi'ites. Totals vary but around 250k seems to be the number.
We have ISIS now that was formed in the vacuum and destablised Syria
Al Qaeda is operating from Iraq now if not, with much debate before.
Now Iraq is under great influence of Iran which it wasn't under Saddam their sworn enemy.
Saddam was a Sunni yes but ruled for most of his regime as a Baath Party secularist. He only played the religion card when he needed to. Iraq had a 2,000 year old Christian community before 2003 numbering @1M people. At least half have fled since because Saddam kept a lid on religious fervor.
Again, he was brutal dictator but the facts hindsight speak for themselves.
BTW, I believe in a free and independent Kurdistan.