It's not a hard thing to imagine how it happens. Younger people suffering from disillusionment at finding out the government has been less than honest with them that then proceed to, instead of making a rational assessment of the involved parties, immediately adopt the contrary position out of a feeling of betrayal and a desire to appear radical.
I have seen this behaviour too. Not necessarily to do specifically with Saddam or the government, but when people find out one extreme is false, they seem to automatically tip heavily in favour of the other extreme.
In general, I think its because people tend to skip over facts and understanding in favour of emotion and sensationalism.
Often, you just have assholes on both sides
The media (hell, people in general) seem to love the "Rebels vs the Empre" idea, where the freedom-loving rebels are trying to overthrow the big evil empire. The realty is usually a lot more complex and messy.
That's the thing: They don't work for you anymore. America, you dun goofed. You have allowed this shit to pass. You have allowed yourself to be watched. You allowed your soldiers to torture. You allow so much stuff to go on unnoticed and continue to care about non-issues. You remember that 2nd amendment? Fighting against tyrannical government? Now's the time to use it. You should be in open revolt. But no. This will continue quietly on, nothing being done. You're screwed. No wikileaks or Manning can save you. You've got that information, now act on it. You have a large amount of the military on your side. You could honestly revolt against the government, but you choose not to. Until that day comes, if that day comes, you are the government's playtoy. As much as you think you have power over them, you don't.
I dont think the US government is "tyrannical" (yet...). So I dont think the most extreme solution (a violent revolt) is the best way to go about solving these problems, and may cause more problems even if it solves those ones. The most extreme solution isnt always the best.