While still in power, Saddam speaks candidly to an Iraqi journalist from the Al Arabiya News Channel:

"Why do you get harm from [government]? It happens because there are corrupt people who control the government with the permission of the people. So, after the experience that you went through, you should become more aware, have your mind about you, and understand… The corrupt people… where did they go now? Where did they go? They went to America, England, and France and spent millions of dinars. From where? You don’t ask, because you are poor and only have one job, where do Jalal Talabani and those like him spend their millions of dinars? They sell your blood and, if your area stabilizes like Iraq stabilized… I don’t want you to just shake your head, I want you to listen well, open your mind. If you open your mind, we can understand each other. If not, we can’t understand each other?”*