<P> Throughout the Cold War , Iraq had been an ally of the Soviet Union , and there was a history of friction between it and the United States . The US was concerned with Iraq 's position on Israeli -- Palestinian politics . The US also disliked Iraqi support for many Arab and Palestinian militant groups such as Abu Nidal , which led to Iraq 's inclusion on the developing US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on 29 December 1979 . The US remained officially neutral after Iraq 's invasion of Iran in 1980 , which became the Iran -- Iraq War , although it provided resources , political support , and some `` non-military '' aircraft to Iraq . In March 1982 , Iran began a successful counteroffensive ( Operation Undeniable Victory ) , and the US increased its support for Iraq to prevent Iran from forcing a surrender . In a US bid to open full diplomatic relations with Iraq , the country was removed from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism . Ostensibly , this was because of improvement in the regime 's record , although former US Assistant Defense Secretary Noel Koch later stated : `` No one had any doubts about ( the Iraqis ' ) continued involvement in terrorism ... The real reason was to help them succeed in the war against Iran . '' With Iraq 's newfound success in the war , and the Iranian rebuff of a peace offer in July , arms sales to Iraq reached a record spike in 1982 . When Iraqi President Saddam Hussein expelled Abu Nidal to Syria at the US 's request in November 1983 , the Reagan administration sent Donald Rumsfeld to meet Saddam as a special envoy and to cultivate ties . By the time the ceasefire with Iran was signed in August 1988 , Iraq was heavily debt - ridden and tensions within society were rising . Most of its debt was owed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the debts , but they refused . </P>
<P> Throughout the Cold War , Iraq had been an ally of the Soviet Union , and there was a history of friction between it and the United States . The US was concerned with Iraq 's position on Israeli -- Palestinian politics . The US also disliked Iraqi support for many Arab and Palestinian militant groups such as Abu Nidal , which led to Iraq 's inclusion on the developing US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism on 29 December 1979 . The US remained officially neutral after Iraq 's invasion of Iran in 1980 , which became the Iran -- Iraq War , although it provided resources , political support , and some `` non-military '' aircraft to Iraq . In March 1982 , Iran began a successful counteroffensive ( Operation Undeniable Victory ) , and the US increased its support for Iraq to prevent Iran from forcing a surrender . In a US bid to open full diplomatic relations with Iraq , the country was removed from the US list of State Sponsors of Terrorism . Ostensibly , this was because of improvement in the regime 's record , although former US Assistant Defense Secretary Noel Koch later stated : `` No one had any doubts about ( the Iraqis ' ) continued involvement in terrorism ... The real reason was to help them succeed in the war against Iran . '' With Iraq 's newfound success in the war , and the Iranian rebuff of a peace offer in July , arms sales to Iraq reached a record spike in 1982 . When Iraqi President Saddam Hussein expelled Abu Nidal to Syria at the US 's request in November 1983 , the Reagan administration sent Donald Rumsfeld to meet Saddam as a special envoy and to cultivate ties . By the time the ceasefire with Iran was signed in August 1988 , Iraq was heavily debt - ridden and tensions within society were rising . Most of its debt was owed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait . Iraq pressured both nations to forgive the debts , but they refused . </P>
the leader of iraq during the persian gulf war was
the leader of iraq during the persian gulf war was
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein