Is it Were Not OR Are Not A Dictator?

The chief judge in Saddam Hussein’s genocide trial said Thursday that he does not believe Saddam was a dictator.

Questioning a Kurdish witness Thursday, Saddam said, “I wonder why this man wanted to meet with me, if I am a dictator?”

The judge interrupted: “You were not a dictator. People around you made you (look like) a dictator.”

Think this may be a tad surprising to those who were actually awake during the years Saddam ruled Iraq with an iron fist.

NYT Story

Question: Was it you “are not a dictator” or you “were not a dictator”?

Translations differ it seems.