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Reaction to President's Speech in Michigan's Iraqi Community
Aired April 28, 2003 - 14:13 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you very much, Heidi. And we're going to send it now to CNN's Jeff Flock, who was watching the speech from a restaurant, not because he's hungry, although I hope you had a chance to get lunch while you were there, Jeff. But more as a good place to sample opinions there in Dearborn.
What are people saying there, Jeff?
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, they're chewing it over, I think it's fair to say, Miles. And we can give you some instant reaction to it.
In the Iraqi community, a lot of people had a lot of support -- people that were exiles. This man is a man I met about a month or so ago.
The night that I met you, you showed me scars on your body from the regime.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you're right.
FLOCK: You said Saddam has to be removed at all costs, and you're very happy about what you just heard from the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's for sure, yes.
FLOCK: Quantify that for me. Tell me why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, we been tortured for 84 years. People there are being killed for no reason.
If you make a joke about Saddam Hussein, you will get killed. If you say any word against Saddam Hussein, you will be killed. That's not the life we see here. I mean, you're free to speak as far as -- on the freedom limit. You know what I mean?
And I understand, and I learn here that your freedom will end when other people freedom start.
FLOCK: Some people have been critical about the way the U.S. has handled post-war Iraq in that it seems that perhaps the medicine isn't getting there quick enough, food isn't getting there quick enough, there has been a lack of organization and planning.
Some have suggested they took care of the oil fields okay but why couldn't they protect the museum? Why couldn't they protect the shops and the homes and the hospitals from being looted?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will come over. It will come over one thing at a time.
FLOCK: It will happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will happen soon -- as soon as they can. You know what I mean?
The oil field -- that's people treasure and if they want to protect the people's treasure, you can't say why you protect this and you didn't protect that.
What they can do, the American troops, they're not going there to stop -- like -- stealing or stuff like that. They -- the first matter is liberation for Iraq.
FLOCK: I hear you. sir, I appreciate the perspective. Appreciate it very much.
Miles, it is important to note that the president mentioned two of the people he talked to. One of them was a Sunni Muslim. The other was a Catholic -- Chaldean Catholic.
Important to know it's Shi'ite Muslims that make up the majority in Iraq. Some people on the outside having some concern about that, and that's on the minds of some people because Iraq is a very diverse country. So they want to make sure all voices are heard.
They're hoping -- we haven't got the list of who exactly the president talked to today -- but they hope the president heard all voices of all Iraqis.
That's it from here, Miles. Back to you.
MILES O'BRIEN: Lots of viewpoints to contend with. Thank you very much, CNN's Jeff Flock, Dearborn, Michigan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired April 28, 2003 - 14:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you very much, Heidi. And we're going to send it now to CNN's Jeff Flock, who was watching the speech from a restaurant, not because he's hungry, although I hope you had a chance to get lunch while you were there, Jeff. But more as a good place to sample opinions there in Dearborn.
What are people saying there, Jeff?
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, they're chewing it over, I think it's fair to say, Miles. And we can give you some instant reaction to it.
In the Iraqi community, a lot of people had a lot of support -- people that were exiles. This man is a man I met about a month or so ago.
The night that I met you, you showed me scars on your body from the regime.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you're right.
FLOCK: You said Saddam has to be removed at all costs, and you're very happy about what you just heard from the president.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's for sure, yes.
FLOCK: Quantify that for me. Tell me why.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I mean, we been tortured for 84 years. People there are being killed for no reason.
If you make a joke about Saddam Hussein, you will get killed. If you say any word against Saddam Hussein, you will be killed. That's not the life we see here. I mean, you're free to speak as far as -- on the freedom limit. You know what I mean?
And I understand, and I learn here that your freedom will end when other people freedom start.
FLOCK: Some people have been critical about the way the U.S. has handled post-war Iraq in that it seems that perhaps the medicine isn't getting there quick enough, food isn't getting there quick enough, there has been a lack of organization and planning.
Some have suggested they took care of the oil fields okay but why couldn't they protect the museum? Why couldn't they protect the shops and the homes and the hospitals from being looted?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will come over. It will come over one thing at a time.
FLOCK: It will happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will happen soon -- as soon as they can. You know what I mean?
The oil field -- that's people treasure and if they want to protect the people's treasure, you can't say why you protect this and you didn't protect that.
What they can do, the American troops, they're not going there to stop -- like -- stealing or stuff like that. They -- the first matter is liberation for Iraq.
FLOCK: I hear you. sir, I appreciate the perspective. Appreciate it very much.
Miles, it is important to note that the president mentioned two of the people he talked to. One of them was a Sunni Muslim. The other was a Catholic -- Chaldean Catholic.
Important to know it's Shi'ite Muslims that make up the majority in Iraq. Some people on the outside having some concern about that, and that's on the minds of some people because Iraq is a very diverse country. So they want to make sure all voices are heard.
They're hoping -- we haven't got the list of who exactly the president talked to today -- but they hope the president heard all voices of all Iraqis.
That's it from here, Miles. Back to you.
MILES O'BRIEN: Lots of viewpoints to contend with. Thank you very much, CNN's Jeff Flock, Dearborn, Michigan.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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