to get the US to go into Iraq and remove Saddam. Saddam, regardless of what you think about him, has been a true nightmare for Islamic extremists. It is because of him that Iraq, before the 1991 gulf war, was a rising star on the international stage both economically and technologically. His ruthlessness had all but eliminated these radicals within the gulf region, with the exception of Iran. By having Saddam removed, these factions have a much better chance of expanding into the power vacuum which will result.

The maxim, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend," could be at play here. While they may hate the US, we still haven't killed nearly as many of their number as Saddam and his security forces have.