"Can anyone answer why on earth the Americans would put Saddam's people back in power?"

I don't know....hmm...let me guess?...hmmm...Maybe they don't want nice guys, pdc. If you are a mafia thug, you prefer to work with others of your ilk. God forbid that someone be democratically elected there. Real democratic institutions would be an anathema to this current regime, they like puppet shows!!!! Which probably explains why Howdy Doody is in the oval office and why, whenever he's talking, you can see Rumsfeld's lips moving.