When Saddam complained about Kuwait's slant-drilling in the border territory Iraq considered to be rightfully their own, and asserted that he may have to take action, April Glaspie replied "The U.S. is not concerned with Iraq's internal disputes".
Is that a "YES"? I'd say so.
Saddam had been our pal and perhaps largest customer for weaponry, including anthrax (whose brilliant idea that was, I don't know)all during the tenure of VP and then President GHW Bush.
Iraq uses all those wonderful weapons we sold him to invade Kuwait, and lo and behold, after a week or so of wimpish dithering, Maggie Thatcher comes over, sticks a rod up GHWB's ..um.. spine, and out comes the memorable phrase "This will not stand".
I'll bet Saddam was aghast, muttering "what the ****?
A very interesting question about the nature and focus of radical islamic terrorist actions had the Western powers not reacted to Kuwaiti pleas and Saudi/Israeli pressure. It may well have been that Saddam's regime would have become the primary focus of terrorist acts and we may well have come to his aid, thus initiating the "War on Terror" up to 10 years ago.
Ain't history wonderful?
Rewrites even more so!