Tony Benn interview Saddam Hussein

[grobelaar]

Former Labour MP, socialist and peace campaigner Tony Benn interviews Saddam Hussein...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2726831.stm

I have a lot of time for Tony Benn, he is one of the most honest politicians I know. Don't totally agree with his views, but the way he conducts himself is always with honesty and integrity - a rarity in this day and age.

He was interviewed on Radio 4 this morning and it was quite funny, because the interviewer was trying to challenge him on why he didn't ask some questions and Tony Benn pointed out that he was on the show to talk about the interview and not to listen to the presenter propaganda, and as such he should shut up and let him speak... A line to bear in mind for anyone thinking of facing off against the likes of Jeremy Paxman

[abi]

Thank you for that link Grobelaar, I too have an enormous amount of time for Tony Benn and was just moaning the other day that the interview had not been aired in oz, so cheers.

[c s]

hm i'm sceptical. there were also some old-school left-wing people from germany who visited iraq i think but i wonder if any of them has been so naive?

"Saddam: First of all we admire the development of the peace movement around the world in the last few years."

"We will not disappoint those who believe in the principles of justice.
And we will uphold the principles of justice and right that we strongly believe in."

i mean this must be a joke or what? saddam must have had a good laugh after that guy left. history proved he's exactly as cynical, violent and reckless as the u.s. - he started wars, he murdered people etc. so how what's the use of letting him spread his propaganda speech? this only serves those who want war. i'm not anti-war because i like (or trust, like the politician seems to) this guy, it's because of the population who have no choice of getting involved or not and who didn't commit a single crime.

[Yer_Maw]

c s, spot on!

[c s]

hu?

[Yer_Maw]

i agree!

[c s]

ah ok. i was in fear i had missed some sarcastic point. lol

[Triptonizer]

Yes Benn's old school leftwing, but if 'New Labour' stands for nuscool, give me the old brand anytime. But I have to agree with cs, Benn's been naive in thinking this interview could add something meaningful to the discussion. We shouldn't commit the mistake of making our point against war by defending in any way saddam's regime. On the other hand, the uncritical style of interviewing and the propagandistic responses given don't differ that much from interviews of Condoleesa Rice by CNN journalists these days.

[c s]

Originally posted by Triptonizer
the uncritical style of interviewing and the propagandistic responses given don't differ that much from interviews of Condoleesa Rice by CNN journalists these days.

definitely! they're all just playing poker with the future of millions.

[c s]

of course i have nothing against oldschool leftwings (as "nuschool leftwing" isn't leftwing at all, correct). the problem is that i often don't like the persons (politicians) who still represent it. i don't know mr. benn but in germany we have for example a guy called lafontaine. he's preparing for a comeback now after he left the "new labour"/green gouvernment in 1999. he asks the right questions and has ok standpoints, yet i don't like him. he's too pathetic, he exaggerates although he is right. also there's some dark spots in his past. i just don't really trust him.