The article contains several inconsistencies like that, driven by the author's politics. But it is still informative.

...it is important not to insist on total capitulation and humiliation, for this could drive Saddam into a corner and make it impossible for him to reverse his course. He will only withdraw from Kuwait if he believes he can survive with his power and his dignity intact.



By the same token, he will only reverse his present course if his power and reputation are threatened. This requires a posture of strength, firmness and clarity of purpose by a unified civilized world, demonstrably willing to use force if necessary. The only language Saddam Hussein understands is the language of power. Without this demonstrable willingness to use force, even if the sanctions are biting deeply, Saddam is quite capable of putting his population through a sustained period of hardship, as he has in the past. It is crucial to demonstrate unequivocally to Saddam Hussein that unless he withdraws, his career as a world class political actor will be ended.



In other words, don't defeat him, but we have to show we can defeat him. Of course, as events showed, we had to kick Saddam's army all over Iraq to get him to back off. Don't think a "threat" would have worked.