Absolute power corrupts absolutely, Saddam should have been given democracy 25 years ago or at least a less powerful position. Probably wasn't possible.
Old saying comes to mind - 'there are no bad soldiers, only bad officers.
Saddam was just stupid, by comparison Gaddafi was clever, he had WMD and when the US challenged him he just opened the doors and the US could do nothing, Saddam would still have his power and his life today if he did the same as Gaddafi. Saddam lost everything Gaddafi lost nothing. Gaddafi was a much bigger threat to the US than Saddam would ever be.