The U.S. helped Saddam Hussein in the war with Iran , but with Iraq 's take over of the oil-rich emirate of Kuwait in August of 1990 the United States led a United Nations attempt that drove Saddam from Kuwait in February 1991 . â With Saddam 's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990 an United Nations coalition led by the United States drove Iraq 's troops from Kuwait in February 1991 .