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CNN Live Today
Evening Prayers Underway in Kuwait
Aired March 21, 2003 - 11:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Evening prayers underway in Kuwait tonight. Of course, it is nightfall in Kuwait. Gary Tuchman standing by in Kuwait City to share with us some of the conversations he's had with Kuwaitis and their reaction to the beginning of this campaign.
Gary?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, hello to you.
We've seen the reports. We've seen the video of protests outside of mosques throughout the Muslim world. That is certainly not the case here at the Al Shirazi (ph) Mosque, in downtown Kuwait City.
Consider this obvious fact, this is the country that was invaded by Iraq back in 1990. This is the country that over the last two days has had nine frightening missile alerts. So, many of the people who went into the mosque tonight on this holy day, Friday to pray tonight, were very content.
As a matter of fact, very enthusiastic in many cases about the war that's going on an hour and a half away from them, here in Kuwait City. With us two of those gentleman, Abdullah (ph) and Adil (ph).
Abdullah (ph), when you just came out of the mosque, tell me what you prayed inside the mosque, regarding for this war?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pray to save Kuwait and the people of Kuwait and to save the troops, the American troops and British troops. And to let Saddam Hussein and his gang, and to liberate Iraq from these -- from this gang.
TUCHMAN: You use the word gang. It is interesting, because Saddam Hussein and his government purposely use the word gangsters to describe the U.S. administration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, they are a gang, seriously. And I hope that the people of Iraq liberated from them.
TUCHMAN: Adil (ph), what did you, when you were in there praying, what did you pray for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I prayed Allah to save the people of Kuwait. And hopefully the soldiers of Kuwait and soldiers of the United States when they are fighting against the tyrant, Saddam Hussein. Hopefully to have a fast victory and shallah (ph).
TUCHMAN: Huge protests outside of other mosques, in other parts of the Muslim world. What do you think about that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are protesting -- I mean, there are very few people that are protesting against the war. But mostly we need this war just to get rid of -
TUCHMAN: One other -- (AUDIO GAP)
ZAHN: We've lost Gary Tuchman in the middle of that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 21, 2003 - 11:24 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Evening prayers underway in Kuwait tonight. Of course, it is nightfall in Kuwait. Gary Tuchman standing by in Kuwait City to share with us some of the conversations he's had with Kuwaitis and their reaction to the beginning of this campaign.
Gary?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, hello to you.
We've seen the reports. We've seen the video of protests outside of mosques throughout the Muslim world. That is certainly not the case here at the Al Shirazi (ph) Mosque, in downtown Kuwait City.
Consider this obvious fact, this is the country that was invaded by Iraq back in 1990. This is the country that over the last two days has had nine frightening missile alerts. So, many of the people who went into the mosque tonight on this holy day, Friday to pray tonight, were very content.
As a matter of fact, very enthusiastic in many cases about the war that's going on an hour and a half away from them, here in Kuwait City. With us two of those gentleman, Abdullah (ph) and Adil (ph).
Abdullah (ph), when you just came out of the mosque, tell me what you prayed inside the mosque, regarding for this war?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I pray to save Kuwait and the people of Kuwait and to save the troops, the American troops and British troops. And to let Saddam Hussein and his gang, and to liberate Iraq from these -- from this gang.
TUCHMAN: You use the word gang. It is interesting, because Saddam Hussein and his government purposely use the word gangsters to describe the U.S. administration.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, they are a gang, seriously. And I hope that the people of Iraq liberated from them.
TUCHMAN: Adil (ph), what did you, when you were in there praying, what did you pray for?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I prayed Allah to save the people of Kuwait. And hopefully the soldiers of Kuwait and soldiers of the United States when they are fighting against the tyrant, Saddam Hussein. Hopefully to have a fast victory and shallah (ph).
TUCHMAN: Huge protests outside of other mosques, in other parts of the Muslim world. What do you think about that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are protesting -- I mean, there are very few people that are protesting against the war. But mostly we need this war just to get rid of -
TUCHMAN: One other -- (AUDIO GAP)
ZAHN: We've lost Gary Tuchman in the middle of that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
