It was a stunning announcement – the United States had captured former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

But what Hussein told his CIA interrogator may surprise you. 

Saddam Hussein was captured by American soldiers on Dec. 13, 2003, just over eight months after his regime was toppled by a U.S.-led invasion. The former Iraqi president had stayed in Baghdad until the city was about to fall. He was eventually found hiding in what was described as a “spider hole” on a farm near his hometown of Tikrit. In a few moments we’ll talk with the CIA agent tasked with questioning the former Iraqi leader. But first – some background. CGTN’s Jessica Stone reports. 

To discuss the interrogation of Saddam Hussein:

• John Nixon,a former senior analyst with the CIA from 1998 to 2011, who was regularly briefing top U.S. government officials

In a new book — “Debriefing the President: The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein”, he reveals surprising details about his interrogation of the former Iraqi leader. 

For more:

Join us 3/22, 10am for conversation on new book, "The Interrogation of Saddam Hussein,” w John Nixon & Bruce Riedel: https://t.co/FeF8TsfN00 pic.twitter.com/mmbWkGCmZA

— Brookings Foreign Policy (@BrookingsFP) March 5, 2017

DEBRIEFING THE PRESIDENT: THE INTERROGATION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN by John Nixon is now up on Book Marks https://t.co/nr5ugaZr4y pic.twitter.com/mUjrJ4FXW6

— Book Marks (@bookmarksreads) February 14, 2017