Final answer:
President George H.W. Bush feared Saddam Hussein's potential use of weapons of mass destruction as Iraq had previously used such weapons and invaded Kuwait, posing a threat to regional stability and international security.
Step-by-step explanation:
President George H.W. Bush harbored serious concerns regarding Iraq's military aggression before the Persian Gulf War. The immediate impetus to the invasion was the fear that Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction (WMDs): nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons capable of significant destruction.
Hussein had previously used such weapons against Iranian forces and the Kurds in Iraq. Furthermore, the Bush administration sought to establish a 'new world order,' where international collaboration would deter aggression, exemplified by the coalition built to oppose Iraq.
Ultimately, there was a fear that Iraq's aggression, marked by its invasion of Kuwait, could lead to broader instability and threaten regional and international security.