You think Saddam cares what opinion is outside of the middle east? I honestly do not.. he and they would justify it.. THEY asked for it as they started this.. blah blah yada yada.
Saddam is thinking many moves ahead of this war.
Saddam is ONLY concerned about opinion in the middle east. And there is no better way for the new Arab Caliph to be able to control that through WMD intimidation of the lesser states.