Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Tom K]

"Saddam misinterpreted our silence for agreeing to his attack."

Saddam has exhibited a long history of mis-calculation - I don't believe "mis-interpretation" was the problem. Aziz said "WE knew the United States would have a strong reaction." Obviously, Saddam mis-calculated believing he would get nothing but a verbal reprimand.

In any case, what is the point you're trying to make? Was this an elaborate scheme designed to trick Saddam into invading Kuwait so we could spend billions of dollars kicking him out???