I came across an account of this interview with Saddam Hussein somewhere earlier today. I thought it was a parody. But I guess not. Sample of the mustachio'd one's words:
Saddam Hussein: You are aware that every major event must encounter some difficulty. On the subject of the inspectors and the resolutions that deal with Iraq you must have been following it and you must have a view and a vision as to whether these resolutions have any basis in international law. Nevertheless the Security Council produced them.Jebus, he talks like a mealy-mouthed academic. No wonder they love him so.These resolutions - implemented or not - or the motivation behind these resolutions could lead the current situation to the path of peace or war. Therefore it's a critical situation. Let us also remember the unjust suffering of the Iraqi people. For the last thirteen years since the blockade was imposed, you must be aware of the amount of harm that it has caused the Iraqi people, particularly the children and the elderly as a result of the shortage of food and medicine and other aspects of their life. Therefore we are facing a critical situation.
Via On the Third Hand: February 04, 2003.)
Update: this is why I thought the interview was a parody. This article is a parody, but the actual interview was not. My confusion is resolved!
Posted by Andrea Harris at February 4, 2003 06:30 PMJust FYI, the interviewer, Tony Benn--whom Channel 4 polishes up with the vague moniker of "veteran politician"--is in fact the distilled essence of the old militant socialist wing of the British Labour Party.
Posted by: David Jaroslav at February 4, 2003 at 10:27 PMAll you have to do is read this "question" from Benn to see exactly why Hussein was willing to speak with him:
There are tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of people in Britain and America, in Europe and worldwide, who want to see a peaceful outcome to this problem , and they are the real Americans in my opinion, the real British, the real French, the real Germans, because they think of the world in terms of their children. I have ten grandchildren and in my family there is English, Scottish, American, French, Irish, Jewish and Indian blood, and for me politics is about their future, their survival. And I wonder whether you could say something yourself directly through this interview to the peace movement of the world that might help to advance the cause they have in mind?
Yeesh.
Posted by: *** Dave at February 5, 2003 at 12:03 AM