Assyrian Podcast Interrogating Sadam Hussein with George Piro
10 snips
Jul 18, 2023 
George Piro, a retired FBI special agent who led Saddam Hussein's seven-month interrogation, shares his Assyrian-Lebanese roots and career path. He discusses deploying to Iraq, building rapport during intense daily sessions, using language and cultural ties, Saddam's personality and justifications, and life after retirement including Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a forthcoming book.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Seven Months Interrogating Saddam
- George de Piro spent roughly seven months directly interrogating Saddam Hussein and worked 16+ hour days with no days off.
- He later helped Iraqi prosecutors build the criminal case against Saddam after the interrogation ended.
Language And Culture Made The Assignment
- The FBI needed a native Arabic speaker to have any realistic chance of long-term interrogation success.
- George's native-level Arabic and cultural background made him a rare, mission-critical fit for the role.
Rapport Built Through Saddam's Pride
- George spent a month and a half building rapport by discussing Saddam's book Zabiba and Iraq's modern achievements.
- He used researched, pride-related topics to earn trust before probing sensitive subjects.
