Dan Rather interviewed Saddam this afternoon, and supposedly Saddam challenged Bush to a televised debate.

In the more telling part of the interview, the Iraqis stated their refusal to destroy their El-Samood(sp?) missles despite the demand by the UN Inspector General Hans Blix.

My guess is that, at the last minute, the Iraqi's will agree to destroy the missles, but there will be controversy over the number of missles Iraq has. ;)

Riiiiigght. Well, I've met Saddam's type time and time again and no matter how stupid Bush is there is no way the obviously insincere bullshitter can appear to be other than what he is.

Actually I liked the idea of a public duel which the Iraqi VP suggested.

Just 2 people with pistols to decide the fate of both countries :)

Saddam probably has the edge since he does hunt for sport I believe.

What Saddam calls hunting for sport Teddy Roosevelt called holding down a weak bear so the President could shoot it.

Heard this morning on cnn that the White House was not taking it seriously.. of course..

Saddam has to disarm, so there really is nothing to debate. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Actually, I think it was the wrong call on the part of the White House to poo poo it. It plays bad to the press and the people and makes it look like the course is set and ready no matter what.

I think the White House should have offered to do the debate, in the White House, if Saddam will make the trip (US will pay travel, of course) and appear in person rather than through one of his "clones." Then let him debate all he wants. After the debate the US can escort him to an undisclosed location. ;)

Could be interesting to watch though. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I think you have to be careful with to not provide him with a forum to legitimize his claims that we're just bullying him. I think Bush would have nothing to gain from a debate and lots to loose. He'll try to make it look like US agression instead of UN mandate.

I say put them both in a boxing ring, slap some 10lb gloves on them and have them duke it out ;) Not that it would solve anything but it would be good entertainment value.

Bush should step up! Get in the ring! If he has any interest in the well being of humans around the planet, and in an alternative to war he should have agreed.

Given his previous examples of elocution however, I can see why the White House would be reluctant... ;)

But it's very telling that he won't even talk to the leader of his enemy. Might have to look him in the eye? If he is so sure of his course, why be afraid?

A great shame that these two mighty powers will not have man-to-man discourse before they try to bomb the crap out of each other... :(

Agreed!

Hmm as for ring fights, I'd like to see Tanya Harding to go box with Saddam.

My money is on Tanya! I hear she's going for the professional banterweight class after she pummelled Paula Jones.

[ 02-26-2003, 12:28 AM: Message edited by: Wutang ]

Exactly what would a debate prove?

Bush would say Saddam has weapons, Saddam will say he doesn't, they both sling insults and what purpose was served?

It would only be a chance for Saddam to appeal to the public.

or Dubya for that matter no?

No it's not really the same Djinn. Bush already has access to the media at large, and they are more than happy to replay every clip of his every stammer. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Saddam on the other hand doesn't have the chance to go public to the world. Do we really want to give this guy an audience? I know many prefer peace to violence, but can we at least remember who this guy is....

Again this is being turned into a "the US has to prove it" issue when the UN has said it's Saddam's place to prove to the world he doesn't have the weapons. Maybe Saddam should debate the UN SC?

[ 02-26-2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]

He absolutely should! He should be brought out and questioned over his human rights violations as well.

While that would actually be great, do any of us really believe Saddam would answer or even stick around for any serious questioning? I'm pretty sure there would be problems on the Iraqi side of the satellite cconnection when the hard questions were asked. Problems or bluster... ;) [img]smile.gif[/img]