"I call for this, because war itself is not a joke. Whoever chooses war as the first choice in his life, then he is not a normal person. I think the - the debates would be an opportunity for us to insure peace and safety. [...] This will be an opportunity for him to convince the world if he commits to war if he is convinced on his own position, This will be an opportunity for him to convince the world that he is right in making such a decision, it could also be an opportunity for us to tell the world our own side of the story and why we want to live in peace and security, I believe that it is the right of the American people, the Iraqi people and the world that we show our evidences clearly so that they can see for themselves, why should we hide from the people? why shouldn't we show them both perspectives? we as presidents, President of the United States and President of Iraq. This is what I am calling for we will either make peace, and this is what we hope for and spare our people harm or whoever decides anything other than peace will have to convince his own people with the facts."
January 1, 1970
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein