What an absolute farce. This is journalism? An interview set up by a dictator, questions approved by that dictator, filmed, edited, and released by him as well. And you call this an "interview?" This was nothing more than a propaganda piece for Saddam that Rather used to prop up ratings.
Ridiculous.
"... I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass..."
The interview was a joke. But Arthur’s interview with Sadism back before the Gulf War was a joke too so I was not expecting anything else. What really got me was when they would not let Condoled Rice on to explain the white house side. CBS news said it would be the president or nothing (latter they said they would allow Cheney on). WHO THE HELL IS CBS to say that the Rice is not good enough for their show.
The greatest thing said about this "interview" was said by Charles Barkley of all people. I am paraphrasing here.
Barkley wondered why Rather didn't just kill Saddam. He would have had Rather ask Saddam to go get something to eat, and then stab him in the neck with a fork. It would have saved us all millions of dollars for a war.
(Yes it was a joke by Sir Charles, so don't yell at me.)
FYI--In today's Wall Street Journal, there is an editorial from Dan Rather talking about his impressions of Hussein. It's not that interesting and doesn't really present anything new. But, it is a first person account of Hussein so that makes it a little more interesting.
Originally posted by TorchslasherThe greatest thing said about this "interview" was said by Charles Barkley of all people. I am paraphrasing here.
Barkley wondered why Rather didn't just kill Saddam. He would have had Rather ask Saddam to go get something to eat, and then stab him in the neck with a fork. It would have saved us all millions of dollars for a war.
(Yes it was a joke by Sir Charles, so don't yell at me.)
(edited by Torchslasher on 28.2.03 1054)
I actually said "man, he shoulda just killed him and saved us the trouble" while watching Rather on Late Night with Bruce Willis (then again, my mind wandered a LOT while Willis floundered), although I wasn't creative enough to suggest Rather use a fork.
The thing about the interview that's stupid is... it wasn't an interview, really. It was a puff piece, a la Larry King. I mean, I don't blame Rather for not asking the tough questions, because he likely would have been killed. But if you can't ask legitimate questions, why hold the interview at all? Seems to me it was a shameless ratings stunt that, in the process, helped to legitimize a brutal dictator.
"... I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass..."
Originally posted by PalpatineWBruce Willis has a show on late night?
The thing about the interview that's stupid is... it wasn't an interview, really. It was a puff piece, a la Larry King. I mean, I don't blame Rather for not asking the tough questions, because he likely would have been killed. But if you can't ask legitimate questions, why hold the interview at all? Seems to me it was a shameless ratings stunt that, in the process, helped to legitimize a brutal dictator.
Willis was filling in for Letterman.
Ole Anderson booking is a weapon of self inflicted mass destruction.
Someone over at NRO has put the interview transcript online - minus all of Hussein's replies. Kind of an interesting read, just to capture the lighthearted mood of the whole thing.
"... I don't believe in damn curses. Wake up the damn Bambino and have me face him. Maybe I'll drill him in the ass..."
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