With respect, if you believe Saddam came to power because of (or had anything to do with) the CIA, that just isn't accurate. Saddam came to power via himself, squarly. He was a self made dictator if there ever was one.... The guy was banished from Iraq for a period of his life (sent off to exile in Egypt/Jordan) only to return via his own efforts. Absoutely nothing to do with the U.S.
And that is a long growing fable regarding UBL and the CIA. He was nothing within the mojahedin which with the CIA worked in the 80s. His legend has been greatly exxaggerated in that period.
As for the idea of the US being stretched because of the GWOT. While I'll agree, it is fact that professionals think logistics, logistics, logistics...while the amatuer thinks tactics......I think what the GWOT proved....was it wasn't the US who couldn't fight an effective, prolonged multi-front war.....it was AQ who couldn't.