Saddam sets oil wells on fire.

[FS]

That is a blatant misstatement FS.

You're right, I was thinking of the wrong historical event.

I was paying a lot less attention to international news at that time, so I can't give a clear answer as to why Clinton wasn't protested. I'd say that 9/11 woke people up to realize war could affect them too, and perhaps they should have protested just as strongly then as they do now.