Saddam Hussein’s 24-year rule over Iraq comprised an almost singular reign of megalomania, mass slaughter, gangsterism, kleptocracy, and national self-destruction. Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi was more cartoonish, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad might yet rack up a higher body count, and the Kims of North Korea actually got their hands on nukes. But there hasn’t really been anyone like Saddam since. To the extent that he warrants comparison to Hitler, Hitler came as tragedy and Saddam as dark, monstrous farce.