That's a good point!
Saddam isn't as crazy with his people. Iran/Iraq tensions were always there and America was pushing for a conflict, knowing that we had the stronger military at the time and that they hate Iran. Kuwait was his biggest mistake because it shows what measures a Dictator goes if he's publicly insulted in a gathering. Other than that, security was on point, taxes wasn't too high, stable economy, lots of oil was actually running through the country, free high education with (at that time) advanced internship programs. Women were allowed to walk near/past midnight and not get harassed, and houses locks were left open (in non poor places), that's how safe it was. Baghdad was developed as hell, as well as several other cities getting built in time, and Jordan's biggest university was actually a Saddam creation too lol