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American Morning

Talk with Americans Living in Kuwait City

Aired February 19, 2003 - 08:20   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back here live in Kuwait City. There are about 13,000 Americans and Canadians living and working here. Many tell us they have a pretty normal life. They shop and they eat out. Even a handful coach Little League baseball here in Kuwait City.
We wanted to know from them a bit earlier today about what their concerns are, what their fears are. Would they stay or would they go?

We had a conversation a bit earlier today to find out those very answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I feel safe here.

HEMMER (voice-over): Easy (ph) and Lynn Sapada (ph) have made their decision. He's a defense contractor and war or not, he's staying. But Lynn, his wife of 28 years, is headed for California within the week. It's not that way for Dawn and Mike Doyle (ph). She's a school teacher from Canada and has not made her decision. He's a contractor, a former Marine, and will not leave Kuwait.

(on camera): What would you say to Americans who are watching this and thinking, you know, Kuwait's not the place to be right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think you have to, for one, you've had to have been here before all this started. I try to tell them, like I've e-mailed quite a few people in my family and my friends, I'm as safe here as they are, I feel, as safe here as they are, given what happened September 11. You could be anywhere. It doesn't matter where you are. Things are going to happen.

HEMMER: What are you thinking? Staying or going?

DAWN DOYLE: I'm really divided. I want to stay with Mike and I haven't reached a discomfort level where I feel I need to go. Our embassy has advised us to go. But I haven't felt that need yet and my school where I'm working is still open. They've not decided to close. So I'm getting all kinds of messages, you know...

HEMMER: I wonder then, is this something that changes on a day to day basis?

DAWN DOYLE: Yes.

HEMMER: It does?

DAWN DOYLE: Yes.

HEMMER: Why is that, do you think?

DAWN DOYLE: Because I think it's not just a rational thing, it's an emotional thing. You know, your family wants you to come home. I have a job here. My home is here right now. So I'm torn. I'm really torn.

HEMMER: Yes.

If there is war, what are your concerns for what may happen within Kuwait?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My concern is more internally than it is externally from Iraq. I think if you read the Arab papers and you talk to a lot of the Arab people, there is a presence of cells, sleeping cells. The fact that six Americans have been shot in the last couple months, I mean, is evidence in itself.

Now, will they wake up when we launch an assault? That's a valid concern. I mean that's a real concern that I have and that's where it becomes an issue with me, is it time for, time to go home or not?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All of our panel today said that they feel a lot safer here in Kuwait now that the U.S. military has arrived. And interestingly enough, three weeks ago when the embassy urged Americans to make plans to leave, so far, we are told, only a handful of Americans have followed that lead.

Next hour, their thoughts on war. Will it happen? We'll revisit our panel then.

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 February 19, 2003 - 08:20   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back here live in Kuwait City. There are about 13,000 Americans and Canadians living and working here. Many tell us they have a pretty normal life. They shop and they eat out. Even a handful coach Little League baseball here in Kuwait City.
We wanted to know from them a bit earlier today about what their concerns are, what their fears are. Would they stay or would they go?

We had a conversation a bit earlier today to find out those very answers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I feel safe here.

HEMMER (voice-over): Easy (ph) and Lynn Sapada (ph) have made their decision. He's a defense contractor and war or not, he's staying. But Lynn, his wife of 28 years, is headed for California within the week. It's not that way for Dawn and Mike Doyle (ph). She's a school teacher from Canada and has not made her decision. He's a contractor, a former Marine, and will not leave Kuwait.

(on camera): What would you say to Americans who are watching this and thinking, you know, Kuwait's not the place to be right now?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I think you have to, for one, you've had to have been here before all this started. I try to tell them, like I've e-mailed quite a few people in my family and my friends, I'm as safe here as they are, I feel, as safe here as they are, given what happened September 11. You could be anywhere. It doesn't matter where you are. Things are going to happen.

HEMMER: What are you thinking? Staying or going?

DAWN DOYLE: I'm really divided. I want to stay with Mike and I haven't reached a discomfort level where I feel I need to go. Our embassy has advised us to go. But I haven't felt that need yet and my school where I'm working is still open. They've not decided to close. So I'm getting all kinds of messages, you know...

HEMMER: I wonder then, is this something that changes on a day to day basis?

DAWN DOYLE: Yes.

HEMMER: It does?

DAWN DOYLE: Yes.

HEMMER: Why is that, do you think?

DAWN DOYLE: Because I think it's not just a rational thing, it's an emotional thing. You know, your family wants you to come home. I have a job here. My home is here right now. So I'm torn. I'm really torn.

HEMMER: Yes.

If there is war, what are your concerns for what may happen within Kuwait?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My concern is more internally than it is externally from Iraq. I think if you read the Arab papers and you talk to a lot of the Arab people, there is a presence of cells, sleeping cells. The fact that six Americans have been shot in the last couple months, I mean, is evidence in itself.

Now, will they wake up when we launch an assault? That's a valid concern. I mean that's a real concern that I have and that's where it becomes an issue with me, is it time for, time to go home or not?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HEMMER: All of our panel today said that they feel a lot safer here in Kuwait now that the U.S. military has arrived. And interestingly enough, three weeks ago when the embassy urged Americans to make plans to leave, so far, we are told, only a handful of Americans have followed that lead.

Next hour, their thoughts on war. Will it happen? We'll revisit our panel then.

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