delusional, conspiracy minded and persuasive and coming across in interviews as the antithesis of a murderous dictator. when asked about reports he threatened lebanon s prime minister. it s not my nature to threaten anybody. i m a very frank and i wouldn t threaten. reporter: in 2011 when abc s barbara walters pressed him whether he ordered his forces to fire on the opposition? they re not my forces. they are military forces belong to the government. i doesn t on t own them. i m president. you have to give the order. no, no. not by your command? no one s command. there was no command to kill or to be brutal. what do you make of that bearing? he s so polite and soft toned? i think he s a master of deception. i think the regime, the package of bashar and his wife is very seducti seductive. it draws you. how could someone who seems so