A TOP British diplomat described Saddam Hussein as ``a presentable young man'' shortly before the former Iraqi dictator took over the country in 1969.
The assessment by then British Ambassador Glencairn Balfour-Paul added Saddam had ``an engaging smile'' and was a man with whom Britain could do business.
The ambassador's letter to London, which has just been placed on the internet by the US National Security Archive, said the tyrant was ``initially regarded as a party extremist, but responsibility may mellow him''.
Another Diplomatic Corps document penned by Balfour Paul said Saddam, then aged 32, ``spoke with great warmth and what certainly seemed sincerity''.
CAPTION(S):
Rise and fall: The dictator then and now
No comments:
Post a Comment