# Should GWB debate Saddam Hussein? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 25, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281 "2003-02-25T00:09:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/1 "2003-02-25T00:09:19Z")
I’m not making this up: "BAGHDAD, Iraq - In an interview with CBS anchor Dan Rather, Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) challenged President Bush (news - web sites) on Monday to an internationally televised debate and indicated he did not intend to follow U.N. orders to destroy his Al-Samoud 2 missiles. Saddam said he envisioned a live debate with Bush along the lines of those in a U.S. presidential campaign, CBS said on its Web site. Rather was to report on the comments on the Monday evening newscast, and CBS planned to broadcast the interview in its entirety Wednesday." [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=514&ncid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20030224/ap\_on\_re\_mi\_ea/iraq\_717](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=514&ncid=514&e=2&u=/ap/20030224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_717) What good/evil could come of this? Is there a snowball’s chance in Hell of it happening? (My bet is no.) But wouldn’t it be every journalist’s dream to witness? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/2 "2003-02-25T00:16:41Z")
Saddam is buying time. No more. No less. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/3 "2003-02-25T00:19:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duckster \* > \*\*Saddam is buying time. No more. No less. \*\* Maybe, maybe not…but do you think that even he is delusional enough to think, in the extremely unlikely event that Bush agreed to a debate, that the U.S. would hold its plans in abeyance awaiting the outcome? ---
**Author:** ![FIREMAN44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@FIREMAN44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FIREMAN44)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/4 "2003-02-25T00:19:37Z")
Not just no, but HELL NO!! He is a dictator, he is evil and he is a liar. He should not be given equal status to President Bush–Good God!! He tried to kill his father! Sadaam is not to be trusted and should be treated as the war criminal that he is. ---
**Author:** ![Jojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecd19e/32.png) [@Jojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jojo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/5 "2003-02-25T00:27:05Z")
No way it is ever going to happen, but I for one would sure love to see it. Although I wouldn’t like to see it as much as I would like to see the duel that Saddam suggested a couple of months ago. ---
**Author:** ![Azael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@Azael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azael)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/6 "2003-02-25T00:35:17Z")
What the hell good would it do? The issue is his non-compliance with UN resolutions and his pursuit of WMDs, not who is the better public speaker. He is just trying to buy time, as he always has. ---
**Author:** ![Avalonian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@Avalonian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avalonian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/7 "2003-02-25T00:40:18Z")
I’m with **Jojo** … even if it did happen (which it won’t), it wouldn’t solve a damn thing, but it would be entertaining to watch. I figure it would turn into a spittin’ match inside of 30 minutes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AZCowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/97f17d/32.png) [@AZCowboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AZCowboy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/8 "2003-02-25T00:40:24Z")
Or perhaps Saddam is just doing a better job of managing international perceptions…diplomacy, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/9 "2003-02-25T00:53:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eva Luna \* > \*\*Maybe, maybe not…but do you think that even he is delusional enough to think, in the extremely unlikely event that Bush agreed to a debate, that the U.S. would hold its plans in abeyance awaiting the outcome? \*\* What is there to debate? Saddam is in violation of UN resolutions. There is no debate. As I said, he’s buying time, although **AZCowboy’s** comment is definitely part of the overall debate scenario. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/10 "2003-02-25T00:59:02Z")
No debate. Saddam is trying everything he can to delay things. I think this is a sign that he is getting very desperate. The only debate we might have with him is over which country he’ll try to seek assylum in if he flies the coop. ---
**Author:** ![MrJones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@MrJones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJones)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/11 "2003-02-25T01:05:56Z")
I heard this today, and it got me to thinking… Who would have the upper hand in this debate? On one hand, you have George W. Bush who, like his idol Ronald Reagan, is good at giving rehearsed scripted remarks but pretty shaky when he has to come up with answers on the fly. But on the other hand, Bush is not a dictator, which means that everything he does and/or says is under scrutiny, and he constantly has to defend himself. Saddam Hussein, being a dictator, naturally dosen’t have that problem. His power is secure, and he’s probably never debated anyone (at least not recently). In other words, Bush is battle hardened, while Hussein, who can simply have his opponents executed, may be a little soft. I give Bush the slight edge, although it depends on who moderates the debate. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/12 "2003-02-25T01:07:34Z")
If nothing more, Saddam (from the interviews, speeches and talks with his advisors that I have seen translated) seems to be relatively articulate and reasonably quick on his feet. Unfortunately, our president is not. It could only mean public embarassment for Bush, (whether his position is right or wrong,) to get involved in a public debate with anyone more verbally adept than your average fifth-grader. ---
**Author:** ![mystic2311](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@mystic2311](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mystic2311)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/13 "2003-02-25T01:21:18Z")
The battle of the Evil Dictators. I think something more along the lines of WWF Rage in the Cage, or maybe naked falafel wrestling would be better. If Bush enters into a debate, he better bring some fuel-air explosives, otherwise he is toast. ---
**Author:** ![japatlgt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@japatlgt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/japatlgt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/14 "2003-02-25T02:03:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mystic2311 \* > \*\*I think something more along the lines of WWF Rage in the Cage, or maybe naked falafel wrestling would be better. > > \*\* Right. Or Celebrity Boxing. Hussein’s advisors must think world opinion is turning in his favor. What a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/15 "2003-02-25T02:30:45Z")
Should he? Hell yes. If only for our entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/16 "2003-02-25T02:38:19Z")
No debate, but as for saddam’s duel idea, that’s more innarestin’ seriously though, there’s nothing to debate. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/17 "2003-02-25T02:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MrJones \* > \*\* I give Bush the slight edge, although it depends on who moderates the debate. \*\* Any thoughts on this subject? Hmmmmm, so many choices… On a related subject, the linked article says he wants something along the lines of the Presidential debate, so I’d hope it would abe a multi-issue evening. I wonder what he’d have to say about American domestic politics, or a host of other things. It sure would be interesting to hear his perceptions, however wacked-out they might be… [hijack] Hey all, meet one of my bestest and oldest friends, **MrJones!** We grew up about 20 feet away from each other, and I was sitting next to him last month when he registered. Please give him a big, warm, squishy SDMB welcome! ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/18 "2003-02-25T02:55:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FIREMAN44 \* > \*\*Not just no, but HELL NO!! He is a dictator, he is evil and he is a liar. \*\* Yeah, but Sadaam Hussein isn’t all that great a person either. 🙂 But seriously, why not? I don’t see what harm it would do. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/19 "2003-02-25T03:01:30Z")
Pointess nonsense. Hussein is making it awfully difficult to avoid a war. ---
**Author:** ![FIREMAN44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4af34b/32.png) [@FIREMAN44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FIREMAN44)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281/20 "2003-02-25T03:22:11Z")
Lissa and Mystic2311, where were you both during the debates between Bush and Gore? The great Gorator was supposed to slice and dice poor George, but guess what? He held his own and even came out on top a couple of times. Give President Bush his due, he has earned it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-gwb-debate-saddam-hussein/157281.md?page=2)