Saddam had pushed oil-exporting countries to raise oil prices and cut back production , but on top of Kuwaiti refusals to do so , Kuwait helped spearhead OPEC 's opposition to the production cuts that Saddam had requested . Saddam pushed oil-exporting countries to raise oil prices by cutting back production ; Kuwait refused , however . In addition to refusing the request , Kuwait spearheaded the opposition in OPEC to the cuts that Saddam had requested .