Final answer:
Saddam Hussein was considered a threat to peace and security due to his prior use of WMDs, the potential for him to acquire more, his regime's human rights abuses, and worries about destablization in the Middle East. Post-9/11, the Bush administration used these concerns to justify the invasion of Iraq in 2003, despite contradictory intelligence reports.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Dr. Rice, and reflected in the broader perspective of the U.S. administration, Saddam Hussein was viewed as a threat to peace and security for multiple reasons. Hussein's previous use of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) during the Iran-Iraq war and against Kurdish populations, along with fears that he was stockpiling more such weapons, contributed to this perception. Post-September 11, the Bush administration expressed concerns that Hussein could acquire WMDs including nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. Despite intelligence reports suggesting otherwise, the administration proceeded with the invasion of Iraq in 2003, propelled by the fear of WMDs and the broader agenda of reshaping the geopolitical landscape in the Middle East to promote global security and democracy, as part of the so-called New World Order.
The Bush administration's arguments for considering Hussein a threat included claims of potential connections to terrorist groups, human rights abuses, and the destabilizing potential of his regime in the region. This view culminated in the application of the Bush Doctrine, which justified preemptive action against perceived threats to the U.S., such as the Iraqi government under Saddam Hussein.