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In Shadow of War With Iraq, Kuwaitis Surprisingly Unafraid
Aired March 18, 2003 - 15:45 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to Kuwait City.
The last time Saddam Hussein launched a major offensive, residents of Kuwait bore the brunt of its force. And they haven't forgotten 1991. Yet, in the shadow of another firestorm involving Iraq, surprisingly we don't find them to be that afraid.
So to check the mood here in Kuwait City we decided to do what Americans do before a crisis. We went to the market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): There is bread to bake, fish to clean, dates to sell.
(on camera): We wanted to show you around the Al Makarbi (ph) market here in Kuwait City. If you would like any kind of date, they have it available here. In fact, this is a good example of how Kuwaitis are facing this crisis differently than perhaps Americans would.
Americans, if we face something like a hurricane or a snowstorm, it seems like everyone heads to the market and cleans off the shelves. But here it is just a day before a potential war with Iraq, and anything you need is still here at the market, whether it's dates or olives or meat or fish, or even incredible produce.
(voice-over): We found this man, like many Kuwaitis, doing his shopping like usual.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no problem with the supplies. And I am wondering why the Americans they go shopping and take up everything in stock. I'm wondering why.
KAGAN (on camera): Why? Because they get afraid that they'll be either alone in their homes or that they'll go to the market then and there will be nothing there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I don't agree with that. I don't feel that. I don't feel that.
Everything here is good. Everything here is supplied here. Everything is safe here.
KAGAN (voice-over): And that's the sense we got no matter who we talked to at this market. The news of the impending war is in the background, and a sense of security is in the front of their minds. Fazal Midori (ph) runs a produce stand.
FAZAL MIDORI, RUNS PRODUCE STAND (through translator): No, we are not scared. We were in Iran for eight years during the war.
KAGAN: Make no mistake, the Kuwaitis remember 1991. This man lost his nephew then, but today he feels secure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Thank god we have the American Army with us. The largest army in the world is here to protect us.
KAGAN: While they stand by to see what those armies will do, the Kuwaitis shop, dine and wait.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And the options for those who want to leave at this point are pretty much running out, especially if we're talking about the airport. The last British Airways flight landed about almost two hours ago, Miles. British Airways says that is it. They've cut off air service into Kuwait.
Also, it seems like Lufthansa is the only one that's still flying. They will fly for perhaps one more day, and then there will be no more commercial flights out of Kuwait in anticipation of what could be happening.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Don't Seem to be Afraid>
Aired March 18, 2003 - 15:45 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to Kuwait City.
The last time Saddam Hussein launched a major offensive, residents of Kuwait bore the brunt of its force. And they haven't forgotten 1991. Yet, in the shadow of another firestorm involving Iraq, surprisingly we don't find them to be that afraid.
So to check the mood here in Kuwait City we decided to do what Americans do before a crisis. We went to the market.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN (voice-over): There is bread to bake, fish to clean, dates to sell.
(on camera): We wanted to show you around the Al Makarbi (ph) market here in Kuwait City. If you would like any kind of date, they have it available here. In fact, this is a good example of how Kuwaitis are facing this crisis differently than perhaps Americans would.
Americans, if we face something like a hurricane or a snowstorm, it seems like everyone heads to the market and cleans off the shelves. But here it is just a day before a potential war with Iraq, and anything you need is still here at the market, whether it's dates or olives or meat or fish, or even incredible produce.
(voice-over): We found this man, like many Kuwaitis, doing his shopping like usual.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no problem with the supplies. And I am wondering why the Americans they go shopping and take up everything in stock. I'm wondering why.
KAGAN (on camera): Why? Because they get afraid that they'll be either alone in their homes or that they'll go to the market then and there will be nothing there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I don't agree with that. I don't feel that. I don't feel that.
Everything here is good. Everything here is supplied here. Everything is safe here.
KAGAN (voice-over): And that's the sense we got no matter who we talked to at this market. The news of the impending war is in the background, and a sense of security is in the front of their minds. Fazal Midori (ph) runs a produce stand.
FAZAL MIDORI, RUNS PRODUCE STAND (through translator): No, we are not scared. We were in Iran for eight years during the war.
KAGAN: Make no mistake, the Kuwaitis remember 1991. This man lost his nephew then, but today he feels secure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Thank god we have the American Army with us. The largest army in the world is here to protect us.
KAGAN: While they stand by to see what those armies will do, the Kuwaitis shop, dine and wait.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: And the options for those who want to leave at this point are pretty much running out, especially if we're talking about the airport. The last British Airways flight landed about almost two hours ago, Miles. British Airways says that is it. They've cut off air service into Kuwait.
Also, it seems like Lufthansa is the only one that's still flying. They will fly for perhaps one more day, and then there will be no more commercial flights out of Kuwait in anticipation of what could be happening.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Don't Seem to be Afraid>
