Post-WWI Germany was reeling not just from the Depression (which didn’t really start till 28) but also from the enormity of the sanctions imposed upon her following the war. Germany was pretty much forced to pay the costs of WWI. The German people, naturally, didn’t take this too well, and Hitler rode the tide of their anger straight into power. If Germany was in a better position in 1938 than Iraq in 2003, it is due to the leadership of Adolph Hitler. The fact that Hussein is nowhere near as good at building up a nation’s economy and morale as Hitler was testifies only to the imcompetence of Hussein, not his innocense. If Hussein was half the “leader” Hitler was, this situation would have been WAY worse. Thank goodness Hussein isn’t/wasn’t.
Another critical point is that we did react, unlike Chamberlain and 1930’s Europe. Hussein invaded Kuwait - instead of wrining our hands and saying “Bad Saddam! Naughty, naughty Saddam!” and telling him he could keep Kuwait but not to let it happen again, we went in and kicked him out. What’s more, we were more diligent about enforcing our sanctions. 1930’s Germany wasn’t allowed to have their military drill with weapons (so they drilled with shovels for a while, as can be seen in some old photographs). But eventually Hitler decided to heck with the sanctions and started building up his military for real. The world did not stop him.
That’s the difference between Hitler and Hussein - we stopped Hussein IN TIME.
This may interest you. Start with 1936 and read onward.