Final answer:
The US feared that Saddam Hussein would use his invasion of Kuwait as a stepping stone to further expansion in the Middle East and gain control over more oil resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
After invading Kuwait in 1990, Saddam Hussein's intentions included annexing Kuwait as Iraq's 19th province, asserting control over its vast oil reserves, and eliminating perceived threats to his regime. This aggression led to the Gulf War, with an international coalition pushing Iraqi forces out of Kuwait in 1991.
The United States feared that Saddam Hussein would use his invasion of Kuwait as a stepping stone to further expansion in the Middle East and to gain control over more oil resources. They worried that Hussein's actions would destabilize the region, threaten the interests of other Arab nations, and lead to a domino effect of invasions. Additionally, there were concerns that Hussein might use weapons of mass destruction, given his history of using chemical weapons against Iran and the Kurdish population in Iraq.