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American Morning

'Uncle Saddam'

Aired November 22, 2002 - 07:18   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now the story of a French filmmaker who talked his way into Iraq, telling everybody he was doing a film on the history of Iraqi architecture, stayed on the ground for a month taking no pictures at all. So, by then, he got everybody comfortable. And then, of course, the second month in with a camera on his shoulder, this is what he got.
What he really wanted to find out about was Saddam Hussein, the man. The result is a chilling documentary called "Uncle Saddam."

And recently, I sat down and talked with Joel Soler about the film and what it reveals about the odd, quirky and disturbing aspects of the Iraqi president's personality.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first thing that Saddam Hussein does every morning when he wakes up at 5:00 a.m. is to have some coffee. Then, he takes care of his personal hygiene. This is especially important, because Saddam prefers to be greeting with a kiss in the armpit.

PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: It's preferable to bathe twice a day, but at least once a day. And when the male bathes once a day, the female should bathe twice a day.

JOEL SOLER, FRENCH FILMMAKER: Do you know why Saddam thinks that the woman should shower twice a day? Because, according to Saddam Hussein, he thinks that the smell of the woman is more noticeable than men.

All of that hygiene, even diet, it's national talk. I mean, when he goes on camera, even for his diet, saying, you know, this month I'm going on a diet. And of course, when he goes on a diet, everybody around him has to go on a diet.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): And what does Saddam like to do for fun? He likes to swim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During his rare free time, Saddam enjoys relaxing near the Tigris River, playing games in the water and swimming.

It's no secret why Saddam is Iraq's biggest heart throb. In the '70s, he was often seen picnicking with his family and getting about on their boat. SOLER: That really surprised me. I was expecting, you know, Saddam Hussein, the evil guy from Baghdad. And I guess you can be evil and campy.

ZAHN: And, one of Saddam's more campy hobbies is how he allegedly goes fishing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saddam loves to eat fish, especially ones he caught himself. Fishing with grenades seems to do the trick. Later, when it's safe, a couple of buddies in scuba gear will retrieve the catch.

ZAHN (on camera): It is amazing to me that you have video actually showing that. Where did you get that video?

SOLER: This is one of the cousins of Saddam's fishing with grenades. It's not Saddam himself. And -- but you know all of his entourage told him about them, and they're proud of it. I mean, it's fun. It's a fun thing to do during the weekend.

ZAHN: And they said that without any sense of embarrassment when they told you about this pastime?

SOLER: No, no, I think they...

ZAHN: And Saddam Hussein, they claimed, did this as well.

SOLER: Yes. I mean, it's like -- it's something very normal for them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And one more interesting note about the man who is suspected of developing biological weapons, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, Saddam is terrified of germs. When one meets him, according to this documentary, there are rules issued by doctors about shaking his hand and standing too close to him.

"Uncle Saddam" airs November 26 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Cinemax, and over the next couple of days, we'll show you more of this video.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.







Aired November 22, 2002 - 07:18   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now the story of a French filmmaker who talked his way into Iraq, telling everybody he was doing a film on the history of Iraqi architecture, stayed on the ground for a month taking no pictures at all. So, by then, he got everybody comfortable. And then, of course, the second month in with a camera on his shoulder, this is what he got.
What he really wanted to find out about was Saddam Hussein, the man. The result is a chilling documentary called "Uncle Saddam."

And recently, I sat down and talked with Joel Soler about the film and what it reveals about the odd, quirky and disturbing aspects of the Iraqi president's personality.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first thing that Saddam Hussein does every morning when he wakes up at 5:00 a.m. is to have some coffee. Then, he takes care of his personal hygiene. This is especially important, because Saddam prefers to be greeting with a kiss in the armpit.

PRES. SADDAM HUSSEIN, IRAQ: It's preferable to bathe twice a day, but at least once a day. And when the male bathes once a day, the female should bathe twice a day.

JOEL SOLER, FRENCH FILMMAKER: Do you know why Saddam thinks that the woman should shower twice a day? Because, according to Saddam Hussein, he thinks that the smell of the woman is more noticeable than men.

All of that hygiene, even diet, it's national talk. I mean, when he goes on camera, even for his diet, saying, you know, this month I'm going on a diet. And of course, when he goes on a diet, everybody around him has to go on a diet.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): And what does Saddam like to do for fun? He likes to swim.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: During his rare free time, Saddam enjoys relaxing near the Tigris River, playing games in the water and swimming.

It's no secret why Saddam is Iraq's biggest heart throb. In the '70s, he was often seen picnicking with his family and getting about on their boat. SOLER: That really surprised me. I was expecting, you know, Saddam Hussein, the evil guy from Baghdad. And I guess you can be evil and campy.

ZAHN: And, one of Saddam's more campy hobbies is how he allegedly goes fishing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saddam loves to eat fish, especially ones he caught himself. Fishing with grenades seems to do the trick. Later, when it's safe, a couple of buddies in scuba gear will retrieve the catch.

ZAHN (on camera): It is amazing to me that you have video actually showing that. Where did you get that video?

SOLER: This is one of the cousins of Saddam's fishing with grenades. It's not Saddam himself. And -- but you know all of his entourage told him about them, and they're proud of it. I mean, it's fun. It's a fun thing to do during the weekend.

ZAHN: And they said that without any sense of embarrassment when they told you about this pastime?

SOLER: No, no, I think they...

ZAHN: And Saddam Hussein, they claimed, did this as well.

SOLER: Yes. I mean, it's like -- it's something very normal for them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: And one more interesting note about the man who is suspected of developing biological weapons, nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, Saddam is terrified of germs. When one meets him, according to this documentary, there are rules issued by doctors about shaking his hand and standing too close to him.

"Uncle Saddam" airs November 26 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Cinemax, and over the next couple of days, we'll show you more of this video.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.