The full text of former Labour MP Tony Benn’s interview, or conversation would be more accurate, with Saddam Hussein can be found here. It is apparently Saddam’s first tv interview with a westerner in 12 years.
I can imagine the criticism Benn is about to receive in the British press and it will give me no pleasure. I have always liked, respected and admired Tony Benn. But there really were no tough questions asked. Benn is not a journalist but he could have done much, much better.
Perhaps David Aaronovitch, in his pre-broadcast spoof, knew something when he reminded Benn of this quote:”If I meet a powerful man, I ask five questions: What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you exercise it? To whom are you accountable? And, how can I get rid of you?” – Tony Benn, July 2002.
Just the last one would have done.
But forgive me if I leave you to make your own verdicts on this one.
