I know about 7 guys who originate from Iraq that train in my gym or the previous one(whom i still see at university). And they all pretty much say the same thing.
When Saddam was in power, iraq was doing quite well, and he kept the different religious beliefs from assaulting each other, ruling with an iron hand and quelling each issue.
Because things went well, people over there didnt really see that much issue with it.
Then the US provoked the first gulf war, and started the second. Current day iraq is a broken place, nothing like what it used to be. Nobody respects the american occupants, or the puppet goverment and police force. People still die due to self made bombs and attacks.
Not a single one of them believes it got remotely better.