The Bush and Saddam Show

George Bush and Saddam Hussein talk so much about each other that we thought: What would happen if they actually faced off — one on one — in a TV talk show? Our Read My Lips feature provides the world’s first transcript of their encounter.

Mr. President, what do you think of Saddam Hussein?

“Saddam Hussein is a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction.”

(U.S. President George W. Bush, October 2002)

Mr. Hussein, your response?

"He who does not want to reap evil should not sow evil.”

(Saddam Hussein, September 2001)

Mr. Bush, why would you want to attack Iraq?

“Iraq and the al Qaeda terrorist network share a common enemy: the United States of America.”

(U.S. President George Bush, October 2002)

Mr. Hussein, will your people be ready?

“In our hearts and souls — as in the hearts and souls of the high-minded — glorious Iraqi women and high-spirited Iraqi men, victory is absolute conviction.”

(Saddam Hussein, May 2002)

How high-minded is Saddam Hussein?

“It appears to be a rerun of a bad movie. He is delaying. He is deceiving. He is asking for time. He is playing hide-and-seek with the inspectors.”

(U.S. President George W. Bush, January 2003)

Why do you think Iraqi society superior to the United States?

“The Americans have not yet established a civilization — in the deep and comprehensive sense we give to civilization.”

(Saddam Hussein, May 2002)

But how civilized is Mr. Hussein?

“The dictator of Iraq is a student of Stalin, using murder as a tool of terror and control, within his own cabinet, within his own army and even within his own family.”

(U.S. President George W. Bush, October 2002)

Mr. Hussein, why do you think the United States is an imperial power?

“What they have established is a metropolis of force.”

(Saddam Hussein, May 2002)

How far are you willing to go, Mr. President?

“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to ensure the survival and the success of liberty.”

(U.S. President George W. Bush, October 2002)

Mr. Hussein, are you worried?

“I am smiling. While Zionism and America have been able to play around with large- and medium-sized countries, they have not managed to play around with Iraq.”

(Iraqi’s President Saddam Hussein, January 2003)