How to get the best possible Iraqi performance in'91?

[James G]

Back to the idea of the OP, an idea struck me today to increase the likelihood of Iraq doing better in 1991.
The US and the Coalition bought Iraqi propaganda - willingly aided among them too by public commentators - that this huge, undefeated and powerful Iraqi Army needed to be matched, overwhelmed even by a superior force.
Quite a significant Coalition military deployment was made.
Instead, that could all be seen as a bluff and a smaller contribution made to throw Iraq out of Kuwait. With less overwhelming force, while they would still win, the Coalition would take larger losses should Iraq be able to hit back more than that could in OTL.
Reasonable idea? Or madness?

[dayton3]

1) Send his forces on into Saudi Arabia before substantial U.S. forces arrived. Sure it would've caused Iraq to be condemned around the world but that happened anyway.
2) Refuse to release the 2,000 or so westerners Iraq took as hostage. Put them at the most obvious air strike locations. It wouldn't have won them the war but it would've made the targeting by the U.S. far more dicey.