Sitting with Saddam

“Ignoring the British Ambassador’s advice, I asked the President whether it was a very Arab thing to do to invade and rape a neighbouring country.

“He did better than I expected. While his ministers rocked back in their seats, he feigned amusement at the sharpness of the inquiry and asked in return whether it was a very English thing to do.”

The President was Saddam Hussein. The interviewer was Trevor McDonald who, to use his word, served his “apprenticeship” at Radio Trinidad until 1969.”

From George John’s column in today’s Trinidad Express. Check out the full text here .