Lee Kuan Yew is unlike any politician I have met. There were no
smiles, no jokes, no bonhomie. He looked straight at me-he has an
inexpressive face but an intense gaze-shook hands and motioned
toward one of the room's pale blue leather sofas (I had already been
told by his press secretary on which one to sit). After 3o awkward seconds,
I realized that there would be no small talk. I pressed the record
button on my machine.