June 24, 2003
DE BORCHED
Man, Washington Times ed-at-large Arnaud de Borchgrave lays it on thick. The Washington Post has details of his Saddam interview request:
He told the Iraqi leader 2 1/2 years ago he hoped such a sit-down "would lead to a reappraisal of American policy toward Iraq."
In a Jan. 11, 2001, "Your Excellency" letter -- recently retrieved from Iraqi intelligence files -- de Borchgrave said he could "guarantee" that an interview with him "will have worldwide resonance as well as two entire newspaper pages in The Washington Times, the newspaper of choice of the Republican establishment."
In the letter, de Borchgrave reminded Hussein that he "had the honor of interviewing you" as a Newsweek correspondent in the 1970s.
De Borchgrave has a point when he says that you don’t get interviews by abusing people, but please ... some dignity or something.
Posted by Tim Blair at June 24, 2003 07:16 PMOf course, by the standards of asskissing Saddam was used to, this was probably so restrained that he stomped off in a fury and didn't calm down until he watched some children being shot.
Posted by: Mike G at June 25, 2003 at 12:31 AMPerhaps we should coin a new word for this kind of obsequiousness to dictators -- "deborchery."
Posted by: charles austin at June 25, 2003 at 01:34 AMWhat re-appraisal: saddamites held to the consistent line, as did also Chiracy baby, Saddam is an everday city gent, and he kisses babies too.
The ree anglos are just being the big nasty schoolyard bullies they are to kind old, 10ounce weakling Saddam.
Waaah, Wah, wah.... where's the dummy, I want my dummy.