Ah, yes... (smile)

Realpolitik.

"He's a scoundrel...but he's OUR scoundrel." Therefore, we work with him most enthusiastically as long as we need him...

They needed Saddam as long as he could serve as a useful threat and nemesis to Iran. That ended when his 8-year war against Iran failed utterly. He was no longer considered useful to the West after that.

Manuel Noriega was once a good buddy and pal of the USA too. So were any number of other such scoundrels. The North American media convert them into "the next Hitler" as soon as the USA decides it's time to "take them out".

Right now it is primarily Mr Ahmadinejad who is occupying that media spot. After him it'll be someone else. Wait and see. It's as predictable as the Perils of Pauline. There always must be a boogeyman out there to empower the $ySStem. If there isn't a real one (and there usually isn't), they just invent one.