RE: Influence that would not be present were it not for the war.
In other words, Saddam is a SOB, but he was the lesser of the worst SOB’s in the region?
Possibly lesser, possibly worse. Either way it really doesn’t matter to the point of maintaining order.
I always assumed one of the many reasons/excuses for taking Saddam out was that inevitably Iran would take over Iraq. W’s war/regime change was in some part an attempt to change that outcome, but all it did was just hit the fast forward on that timeline. Then Odumbo/Hillary added the extra dynamic of Syrian destabilization/rise of ISIS and it’s spill over into Iraq.
SO yes. Their leaders were big meanies but it’s become all too apparent big meanie is what the job requires.