Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Discussion with Zainab Al Suwaij

Aired April 10, 2003 - 10:55   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.


(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ZAINAB AL SUWAIJ, AMERICAN ISLAMIC CONG.: ... everybody was there, everybody was in the street, congratulating each other, and I wish that I was there. And we are just picking up which we left 12 years ago, and I think it's wonderful, and we're hoping to see the rest of Iraq in the same excitement, same happiness that you see in the eyes of the people there.

KAGAN: But does it feel different than 1991? Does it feel like this time it's for keeps and Saddam Hussein will be gone forever?

AL SUWAIJ: That's right. This time it's for sure, and Saddam is going, gone forever, and his regime and his thugs, they are no longer there, and I hope Iraq will be -- the whole Iraq will be free very soon.

KAGAN: And what about the entire Iraq? Do you think this is a country that can actually support a democracy given how many different types of groups there are that will be struggling for power?

AL SUWAIJ: Sure. We are as Iraqis, we don't have a problem with different ethnicities and different backgrounds. We never had a history of civil war between the different religions or ethnicities in Iraq. I think Iraqis, all of them, they share the years of suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime, and it's time, it's about time now for them to be free, to be liberated and to establish their own Democratic government and rule their own country.

KAGAN: Zainab Al Suwaij, thanks for joining us. Thanks for being patient with the technical problems, and we wish you well in getting contact with your family members in Iraq.

ZAINAB AL SUWAIJ: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

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 April 10, 2003 - 10:55   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
ZAINAB AL SUWAIJ, AMERICAN ISLAMIC CONG.: ... everybody was there, everybody was in the street, congratulating each other, and I wish that I was there. And we are just picking up which we left 12 years ago, and I think it's wonderful, and we're hoping to see the rest of Iraq in the same excitement, same happiness that you see in the eyes of the people there.

KAGAN: But does it feel different than 1991? Does it feel like this time it's for keeps and Saddam Hussein will be gone forever?

AL SUWAIJ: That's right. This time it's for sure, and Saddam is going, gone forever, and his regime and his thugs, they are no longer there, and I hope Iraq will be -- the whole Iraq will be free very soon.

KAGAN: And what about the entire Iraq? Do you think this is a country that can actually support a democracy given how many different types of groups there are that will be struggling for power?

AL SUWAIJ: Sure. We are as Iraqis, we don't have a problem with different ethnicities and different backgrounds. We never had a history of civil war between the different religions or ethnicities in Iraq. I think Iraqis, all of them, they share the years of suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime, and it's time, it's about time now for them to be free, to be liberated and to establish their own Democratic government and rule their own country.

KAGAN: Zainab Al Suwaij, thanks for joining us. Thanks for being patient with the technical problems, and we wish you well in getting contact with your family members in Iraq.

ZAINAB AL SUWAIJ: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com