Question

what did the u.s. fear saddam hussein was trying to do in the middle east after he took over kuwait?

a. that he was going to invade israel.
b. that he was going to force all middle eastern nations to directly attack the united states.
c. that he was going to take over all of the oil wells in the middle east.
d. that he was trying to make a nuclear device to attack the united states.

Explanation:

Analyze the historical context of the invasion of Kuwait

Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, the United States and its allies feared that Saddam Hussein aimed to control a massive share of the world's oil supply. Kuwait possessed significant oil reserves, and its neighbor Saudi Arabia—a key U.S. ally—was highly vulnerable to a subsequent Iraqi invasion.

Evaluate the given options

• Option a: While regional tensions existed, a direct invasion of Israel was not the immediate primary fear driving the U.S. military buildup in the Gulf.
• Option b: There was no expectation that Hussein could force all Middle Eastern nations to launch a direct attack on the U.S.
• Option c: Controlling Kuwait and potentially Saudi Arabia would give Iraq control over a vast majority of the Middle East's oil wells, threatening global economic stability. This was the primary U.S. national security concern.
• Option d: Developing a nuclear device to attack the U.S. was not the immediate threat identified directly following the takeover of Kuwait in 1990.

Answer:

• a. That he was going to invade Israel.
• b. That he was going to force all Middle Eastern nations to directly attack the United States.
• c. That he was going to take over all of the oil wells in the Middle East. (Correct answer)
• d. That he was trying to make a nuclear device to attack the United States.