U.S. officials attempted to maintain a conciliatory line with Iraq , indicating that while Bush and Baker did not want force to be used , they would not take any position on the Iraqi-Kuwait dispute and did not want to become involved . U.S. officials attempted to maintain a conciliatory line with Iraq , indicating that while George H. W. Bush and James Baker did not want force used , they would not take any position on the Iraqâ `` Kuwait boundary dispute and did not want to become involved .