[pessimizer]

The point is that Saddam was a hero when he was killing Iranians, but a villain when he invaded Kuwait. Saddam didn't actually change, his usefulness to us did. And a large part of the reason he was able to rule Iraq was because he was supported by the West.

Assuming the people you're arguing with are simple-minded flat-earthers who can't think that anything against America is bad because they think America is bad and two things can't be bad because they like to argue is causing you to hear the worst possible version of people's positions.