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CNN Sunday Morning
Allawi Visits London; New Presidential Polls Show Mixed Results for Bush, Kerry
Aired September 19, 2004 - 08:00 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The next our of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 19. And we're going to go all across Pensacola to Washington this morning, I believe. Good morning to you. I'm Drew Griffin.
NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. Now in the news, we have a lot to tell you about.
Iraqi leader Iyad Allawi is in London today. Both he and Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirmed their commitment to democratic elections in Iraq at the end of January. London was Prime Minister Allawi's first stop on a trip that will also take him to New York and Washington.
In Tehran, the Iranian government is U.N's nuclear agency to mind its own business. The International Atomic Energy Agency wants Iran to stop enriching uranium and other nuclear activities. Iran's response today is that the U.N. has no right to tell Iran what to do. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator adds that Iran's uranium enrichment program will proceed or not according to its own choosing.
A legal battle is promised in Louisiana, where a ban on same-sex marriage has received overwhelming approval. Nearly eight out of 10 voters cast ballots yesterday in favor of an amendment to the state constitution. Even in New Orleans, which has a politically active gay community, the amendment mustered enough support to pass.
GRIFFIN: Coming up this hour, the wife of an American kidnapped in Iraq is pleading for his freedom. And in an interview with CNN she talks about her husband, her family and what the U.S. should do. Hear it in just a few minutes.
Also ahead, Ivan's mess. The president heads south today to see it firsthand.
And on the campaign trail, new poll numbers in the race for the White House. A mixed bag for the Bush and Kerry.
NGUYEN: Up first this hour, it's a wait no wife should ever have to endure. On Thursday a band of rogue kidnappers abducted Patty Hensley's husband, Jack, and two others under a cloak of darkness from a Baghdad house. Now, the grief stricken wife is pleading for their release, saying the men only came in peace. Patty Hensley spoke with CNN earlier and talked about how the couple's 13-year-old daughter is coping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: I'm Patty Hensley. I am the wife of Jack Hensley, who is being held captive in Iraq. And I'd like to make a statement.
I'm speaking to the people who are responsible for holding my husband, Jack Hensley, who is the son of Jerry Hensley.
My Jack has been a guest in your country for the past six months. My husband, Jack, came to your country so that he could provide for our family. Jack is the father of Sarah Hensley, whom he loves very much. In fact, Jack recently used his vacation time to return to the States to surprise her for her 13th birthday. Sarah miss her father very much, and it is your decision if he can come home back to her.
Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his co-workers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families, and it is your decision whether this happens.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: In about 10 minutes we'll bring you more from our interview with Patty Hensley -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Turning now to the aftershocks of Hurricane Ivan. The storm is gone but what remains is a sad tally of death and destruction. In northern New Jersey officials have evacuated hundreds of people from towns along the Delaware River, including 200 from a nursing home. In Maryland, two women dead, after this tree fell on a small home in a rural town. Officials keeping an eye on flooding in the western part of that state.
President Bush has declared disaster areas in states hardest hit by Ivan and its remnants. One of those states is North Carolina, where officials say it's the worst natural disaster they've ever seen. Our Sean Callebs is in Franklin, joins us with this live update -- Sean.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew.
The dawn here and the edge of the Smoky Mountains and shortly legions of rescue workers are expected to fan back out into the southeastern corner of Macon County to continue their search and rescue operation.
This area was hit hard by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan on Thursday night. Four people are known dead. There are several others who have been injured, and the fear is there could be more people missing in debris in this area. As you mentioned, the emergency director of Macon County says this is the worst natural disaster to ever hit this county. Remnants of Hurricane Ivan really punished western North Carolina, with as much as 12 inches of rain falling in some areas. What is left of the area is simply a mess, some 30 homes simply splintered, washed off their foundations, entire roads simply washed away as well. Large trees tossed about as though they were twigs.
This is an area known as Peak's Creek, usually Peak's Creek is about five to six feet wide. Well, residents are recalling a night of horror. Authorities say the water level reached about 30 feet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Terrible, absolutely terrible. It was like the debris was just coming through the air. And it sounded like a freight train coming through, and we were able to run through the house and jump out the back door before our house started sliding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just took my breath away, broke my heart. We have friends up here. Four friends are dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: That, of course, the major concern that there could still be people trapped in debris. Some 300 rescue workers are looking for survivors and possibly more victims. The rescue teams really come from all over North Carolina, including urban search and rescue teams from Charlotte. And swiftwater rescue teams from the capital of Raleigh.
Now, all of Macon County was really hit hard by the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan but the director of emergency services here says until all search and rescue efforts have been exhausted, they will not be able to even begin looking at the other parts of this county simply hammered, roads washed away, trees knocked down, power lines knocked down. Simply a horrible mess in this area -- Drew?
GRIFFIN: Sean, this was terrible storm. Thanks for that report.
Betty?
NGUYEN: Turning now to the presidential race and some strong words from the U.S. Speaker of the House. At a fund-raiser in Illinois last night, honoring Vice President Dick Cheney, Dennis Hastert told reporters he believes terrorists would be more comfortable if John Kerry won the election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), HOUSE SPEAKER: The press asked me tonight what about all of these things, these terrible attacks going on in Iraq? Well, I don't have intelligence to tell you one thing or another, but I can tell you what I think.
I think that the terrorists, the Al Qaeda would like to influence this election. They would like to influence this election just like they influenced the election in Spain but the American people aren't going to let that happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meanwhile, Air Force One touches town less than three hours from now in a Pensacola Naval Station in Florida and President Bush begins an air and ground tour of Florida and Alabama coastal areas heavily damaged by Hurricane Ivan. He'll see firsthand the damage at Gulf Shores, Alabama, where the eye of the storm made landfall.
GRIFFIN: Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry spending the day in Boston before heading to New York. Yesterday at a fund-raiser in his hometown, Kerry told a hometown crowd he's ready for the battle. With six weeks left in the campaign, Kerry reminded donors that he has come from behind to win before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D-MA) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These folks have got me in a fighting mood. When I get in a fighting mood towards the end of September and towards the beginning of October I think you know what happens here in Massachusetts. I feel those October juices flowing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: He may need a lot of those juices. New poll for the "St. Louis Dispatch" shows Kerry and Bush with some very different numbers in two neighboring states, in Illinois, Kerry enjoys a 15- point lead over Bush with 54 percent support likely. It is a state Al Gore won in the 2000 election.
But in Missouri the numbers paint a different picture, there President Bush leads the senator, 49 percent to 42 percent. In 2000, Bush did carry Missouri.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
NGUYEN: Speaking from her heart at the most difficult time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENSLEY: I've known the man 23 years. He is one of the kindest, gentlest people, who wanted to help, and the last person in the world that I would have expected this to happen to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A wife struggles to understand how her husband's fate came to rest in the hands of kidnapers in Iraq. We'll hear much more from Patty Hensley.
GRIFFIN: Later this hour, Dr. Sanjay Gupta throws a dose of some reality onto some widely believed myths. You know the one about the gum in your stomach for seven years? You might want to stick around for this. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: The Internet can be a powerful political player. It is true, more than ever, in this election, and in our 'Best of the Web' segment we'll guide you to the hottest political sites, that is ahead at 9:00.
NGUYEN: But first, the wife of a U.S. hostage tells his captors in Iraq why he should be allowed to come home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Earlier we shared with you part of a statement by Patty Hensley, the wife of one of three hostages in Iraq, who life is being threatened. The three, two Americans and a Brit were abducted Wednesday night from their home in Baghdad. Patty Hensley lives in suburban Atlanta, she talked with CNN's Colleen McEdwards about what her family is going through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Patty, I know that you spoke to your husband on the Internet, via e-mail, shortly before this happened. Tell me what that conversation was like and what it was like for you afterward, finding out this devastating news that he had been abducted.
HENSLEY: It was usual daily conversation of how are things going for you, how are things going for me. He oftentimes mentioned tension, but it came and went, so in some ways, we weren't overly alarmed.
As best I can tell, putting time frames together within 45 minutes of the time that we stopped chatting, this abduction occurred. And I, unfortunately, was not aware until the next morning, but needless to say, I was horrified.
MCEDWARDS: How did you find out?
HENSLEY: My habit is, again, to log into the Internet every morning and sometimes Jack is there. And I can chat with him at that time. The time differences are when I'm going to bed, he's getting up and vice versa.
There was a news item on AOL that two Americans and one Britain had been captured. I knew that was the makeup of the household that he was living in there. And as I read further and they identified the company and further described the villa that they were living in. It immediately hit me that this was a very strong possibility it was them.
And I immediately started making phone calls to confirm whatever I could confirm. That's all I know at this point.
MCEDWARDS: What exactly was your husband doing over there? HENSLEY: His official title for the company he was business developer. He would go to areas that were specifically demolished by all of the strife that's going on over there. In conjunction with other companies that are over there, they would evaluate what was needed, whether it be the water systems rebuilt, the schools rebuilt.
At one time they were looking at one of the historic museums on how to restore the culture back to the Iraqi people. The electrical grids; they were building housing for the workers that are part of putting all this back together.
MCEDWARDS: So he's really, he's one of the people who is there helping Iraq rebuild.
HENSLEY: Well, that was him. He felt that he could provide a service to them, having traveled abroad before, and it wasn't anything he couldn't handle, and he felt secure in doing this.
MCEDWARDS: What's your understanding of how this happened? How does he get abducted?
HENSLEY: Not through just stories with my husband, but with other people that I've known in Iraq. It's apparently a common daily threat that, because you are a foreigner, you're not an Iraqi or Iranian or Afghanistan or Pakistani, you are obvious, and there could be idle threats or there could be real ones. And you just don't know the difference between the two.
Apparently this was not an idle threat. There was concern for a few days before this happened that something was wrong. And before they were able to put their finger on it, the situation happened.
MCEDWARDS: What kind of concern? Can you elaborate on that at all?
HENSLEY: I believe it's been in the news, but they were provided with round the clock guards at their home, Iraqi guards who were armed. And the guards had stopped showing up for work, or showed up for work and had some excuse as to why they couldn't stay, and --
MCEDWARDS: And is that true as far as you know, the guards weren't showing up, they weren't there at the time?
HENSLEY: The morning they were abducted, there was no guard, as there should have been. And everybody was working on it, trying to figure out what's wrong, and what do we need to do. And before they had an opportunity, this happened.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: When we come back, Patty Hensley tells us more about what it's been like for her family and 13-year-old daughter since her husband was taken hostage. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: More from our interview with Patty Hensley whose husband, Jack, is one of three Westerners being held in Iraq. Our Colleen McEdwards talked to her about her family's ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCEDWARDS: What's it been like for you and your family since this happened?
HENSLEY: As you can imagine, it's been unbelievable. It's been very devastating. We have a daughter that doesn't understand, because she believes that everyone in the world is good. That's what she's been taught all this time.
To a certain extent, it's very surreal. And, you know, I've known the man 23 years. He is one of the kindest, gentlest people, who wanted to help and the last person in the world that I would have expected this to happen to.
He has no military affiliations. He's not there to fight. He's there to help the Iraqi people. And all three of these guys are all that way, and why they've been picked, I have no idea.
MCEDWARDS: So no sense why he would be targeted. How are you, as a mother coping, and how are you protecting your 13-year-old daughter from all of this?
HENSLEY: It's hard to explain to her. To be honest, I've basically just kept her in the dark. I mean, she is aware that her daddy has been kidnapped. She does not understand the full extent of what that actually means. She has not watched or followed any of the previous abductions or what has been the outcome of those.
She is not aware of the threat that we're under now. I don't believe she'd understand at all, because she believes everybody's good in the world, you know. And why they would want to hurt her dad, she would never understand.
MCEDWARDS: Was she worried about him going to Iraq to work?
HENSLEY: At first, it was like daddy going on a business trip somewhere. The magnitude of how far away and how long it took him to get there finally sunk in with her, that he's not in other state where she can just pick up the phone and call him any time she wants. He can't come home any time he wants.
That's when it began to sink in that this probably is not like previous travel he's done for business. She wasn't sure how to handle that. We are very close, thank god, and she has just relied on me to be her strength, and if need be, explain things to her, of course, I can only explain so much.
MCEDWARDS: Tell me what you think ought to be done in a situation like this. There have been countries that have sent delegations. Do you think there should be negotiations? Do you think their demands should be met to save lives? HENSLEY: Well, you know, the government's position, the United States government's position in the past, and understandably so, is that we're not going to negotiate with terrorists. There's a big part of me that supports that 100 percent, but now that it's hit home, it's harder for me to say that.
MCEDWARDS: Patty, the next hours, and day or so, are obviously going to be a really difficult time for you and your family. Just share with us how you are going to spend it, how you are being kept informed. What you've got ahead for yourself in the next few hours.
HENSLEY: A great many of church friends have gathered around, so we are praying, of course. In some ways, I hate to say it, but we're praying for the captors as well, because I don't realize they -- I don't think they realize what they've done with these three gentlemen in particular.
We are vigilantly at our house by the phone. We are just waiting for updates from anyone and everyone. I personally have not left my house since Wednesday night, until today. When you all gave me this opportunity.
It's just a lot of praying and a lot of waiting, you know, and maintaining life as normal as we can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Of course, we will continue to follow this story for you.
Up next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and "House Call", medical myths from old wives' tales to the Internet. You can find lots of advice that may not do anything to help your health. That is next, after these headlines.
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Aired September 19, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The next our of CNN SATURDAY MORNING begins right now.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 19. And we're going to go all across Pensacola to Washington this morning, I believe. Good morning to you. I'm Drew Griffin.
NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. Now in the news, we have a lot to tell you about.
Iraqi leader Iyad Allawi is in London today. Both he and Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirmed their commitment to democratic elections in Iraq at the end of January. London was Prime Minister Allawi's first stop on a trip that will also take him to New York and Washington.
In Tehran, the Iranian government is U.N's nuclear agency to mind its own business. The International Atomic Energy Agency wants Iran to stop enriching uranium and other nuclear activities. Iran's response today is that the U.N. has no right to tell Iran what to do. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator adds that Iran's uranium enrichment program will proceed or not according to its own choosing.
A legal battle is promised in Louisiana, where a ban on same-sex marriage has received overwhelming approval. Nearly eight out of 10 voters cast ballots yesterday in favor of an amendment to the state constitution. Even in New Orleans, which has a politically active gay community, the amendment mustered enough support to pass.
GRIFFIN: Coming up this hour, the wife of an American kidnapped in Iraq is pleading for his freedom. And in an interview with CNN she talks about her husband, her family and what the U.S. should do. Hear it in just a few minutes.
Also ahead, Ivan's mess. The president heads south today to see it firsthand.
And on the campaign trail, new poll numbers in the race for the White House. A mixed bag for the Bush and Kerry.
NGUYEN: Up first this hour, it's a wait no wife should ever have to endure. On Thursday a band of rogue kidnappers abducted Patty Hensley's husband, Jack, and two others under a cloak of darkness from a Baghdad house. Now, the grief stricken wife is pleading for their release, saying the men only came in peace. Patty Hensley spoke with CNN earlier and talked about how the couple's 13-year-old daughter is coping.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: I'm Patty Hensley. I am the wife of Jack Hensley, who is being held captive in Iraq. And I'd like to make a statement.
I'm speaking to the people who are responsible for holding my husband, Jack Hensley, who is the son of Jerry Hensley.
My Jack has been a guest in your country for the past six months. My husband, Jack, came to your country so that he could provide for our family. Jack is the father of Sarah Hensley, whom he loves very much. In fact, Jack recently used his vacation time to return to the States to surprise her for her 13th birthday. Sarah miss her father very much, and it is your decision if he can come home back to her.
Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his co-workers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families, and it is your decision whether this happens.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: In about 10 minutes we'll bring you more from our interview with Patty Hensley -- Drew.
GRIFFIN: Turning now to the aftershocks of Hurricane Ivan. The storm is gone but what remains is a sad tally of death and destruction. In northern New Jersey officials have evacuated hundreds of people from towns along the Delaware River, including 200 from a nursing home. In Maryland, two women dead, after this tree fell on a small home in a rural town. Officials keeping an eye on flooding in the western part of that state.
President Bush has declared disaster areas in states hardest hit by Ivan and its remnants. One of those states is North Carolina, where officials say it's the worst natural disaster they've ever seen. Our Sean Callebs is in Franklin, joins us with this live update -- Sean.
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Drew.
The dawn here and the edge of the Smoky Mountains and shortly legions of rescue workers are expected to fan back out into the southeastern corner of Macon County to continue their search and rescue operation.
This area was hit hard by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan on Thursday night. Four people are known dead. There are several others who have been injured, and the fear is there could be more people missing in debris in this area. As you mentioned, the emergency director of Macon County says this is the worst natural disaster to ever hit this county. Remnants of Hurricane Ivan really punished western North Carolina, with as much as 12 inches of rain falling in some areas. What is left of the area is simply a mess, some 30 homes simply splintered, washed off their foundations, entire roads simply washed away as well. Large trees tossed about as though they were twigs.
This is an area known as Peak's Creek, usually Peak's Creek is about five to six feet wide. Well, residents are recalling a night of horror. Authorities say the water level reached about 30 feet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Terrible, absolutely terrible. It was like the debris was just coming through the air. And it sounded like a freight train coming through, and we were able to run through the house and jump out the back door before our house started sliding.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It just took my breath away, broke my heart. We have friends up here. Four friends are dead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: That, of course, the major concern that there could still be people trapped in debris. Some 300 rescue workers are looking for survivors and possibly more victims. The rescue teams really come from all over North Carolina, including urban search and rescue teams from Charlotte. And swiftwater rescue teams from the capital of Raleigh.
Now, all of Macon County was really hit hard by the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan but the director of emergency services here says until all search and rescue efforts have been exhausted, they will not be able to even begin looking at the other parts of this county simply hammered, roads washed away, trees knocked down, power lines knocked down. Simply a horrible mess in this area -- Drew?
GRIFFIN: Sean, this was terrible storm. Thanks for that report.
Betty?
NGUYEN: Turning now to the presidential race and some strong words from the U.S. Speaker of the House. At a fund-raiser in Illinois last night, honoring Vice President Dick Cheney, Dennis Hastert told reporters he believes terrorists would be more comfortable if John Kerry won the election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), HOUSE SPEAKER: The press asked me tonight what about all of these things, these terrible attacks going on in Iraq? Well, I don't have intelligence to tell you one thing or another, but I can tell you what I think.
I think that the terrorists, the Al Qaeda would like to influence this election. They would like to influence this election just like they influenced the election in Spain but the American people aren't going to let that happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Meanwhile, Air Force One touches town less than three hours from now in a Pensacola Naval Station in Florida and President Bush begins an air and ground tour of Florida and Alabama coastal areas heavily damaged by Hurricane Ivan. He'll see firsthand the damage at Gulf Shores, Alabama, where the eye of the storm made landfall.
GRIFFIN: Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry spending the day in Boston before heading to New York. Yesterday at a fund-raiser in his hometown, Kerry told a hometown crowd he's ready for the battle. With six weeks left in the campaign, Kerry reminded donors that he has come from behind to win before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY, (D-MA) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: These folks have got me in a fighting mood. When I get in a fighting mood towards the end of September and towards the beginning of October I think you know what happens here in Massachusetts. I feel those October juices flowing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: He may need a lot of those juices. New poll for the "St. Louis Dispatch" shows Kerry and Bush with some very different numbers in two neighboring states, in Illinois, Kerry enjoys a 15- point lead over Bush with 54 percent support likely. It is a state Al Gore won in the 2000 election.
But in Missouri the numbers paint a different picture, there President Bush leads the senator, 49 percent to 42 percent. In 2000, Bush did carry Missouri.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
NGUYEN: Speaking from her heart at the most difficult time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HENSLEY: I've known the man 23 years. He is one of the kindest, gentlest people, who wanted to help, and the last person in the world that I would have expected this to happen to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: A wife struggles to understand how her husband's fate came to rest in the hands of kidnapers in Iraq. We'll hear much more from Patty Hensley.
GRIFFIN: Later this hour, Dr. Sanjay Gupta throws a dose of some reality onto some widely believed myths. You know the one about the gum in your stomach for seven years? You might want to stick around for this. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: The Internet can be a powerful political player. It is true, more than ever, in this election, and in our 'Best of the Web' segment we'll guide you to the hottest political sites, that is ahead at 9:00.
NGUYEN: But first, the wife of a U.S. hostage tells his captors in Iraq why he should be allowed to come home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GRIFFIN: Earlier we shared with you part of a statement by Patty Hensley, the wife of one of three hostages in Iraq, who life is being threatened. The three, two Americans and a Brit were abducted Wednesday night from their home in Baghdad. Patty Hensley lives in suburban Atlanta, she talked with CNN's Colleen McEdwards about what her family is going through.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Patty, I know that you spoke to your husband on the Internet, via e-mail, shortly before this happened. Tell me what that conversation was like and what it was like for you afterward, finding out this devastating news that he had been abducted.
HENSLEY: It was usual daily conversation of how are things going for you, how are things going for me. He oftentimes mentioned tension, but it came and went, so in some ways, we weren't overly alarmed.
As best I can tell, putting time frames together within 45 minutes of the time that we stopped chatting, this abduction occurred. And I, unfortunately, was not aware until the next morning, but needless to say, I was horrified.
MCEDWARDS: How did you find out?
HENSLEY: My habit is, again, to log into the Internet every morning and sometimes Jack is there. And I can chat with him at that time. The time differences are when I'm going to bed, he's getting up and vice versa.
There was a news item on AOL that two Americans and one Britain had been captured. I knew that was the makeup of the household that he was living in there. And as I read further and they identified the company and further described the villa that they were living in. It immediately hit me that this was a very strong possibility it was them.
And I immediately started making phone calls to confirm whatever I could confirm. That's all I know at this point.
MCEDWARDS: What exactly was your husband doing over there? HENSLEY: His official title for the company he was business developer. He would go to areas that were specifically demolished by all of the strife that's going on over there. In conjunction with other companies that are over there, they would evaluate what was needed, whether it be the water systems rebuilt, the schools rebuilt.
At one time they were looking at one of the historic museums on how to restore the culture back to the Iraqi people. The electrical grids; they were building housing for the workers that are part of putting all this back together.
MCEDWARDS: So he's really, he's one of the people who is there helping Iraq rebuild.
HENSLEY: Well, that was him. He felt that he could provide a service to them, having traveled abroad before, and it wasn't anything he couldn't handle, and he felt secure in doing this.
MCEDWARDS: What's your understanding of how this happened? How does he get abducted?
HENSLEY: Not through just stories with my husband, but with other people that I've known in Iraq. It's apparently a common daily threat that, because you are a foreigner, you're not an Iraqi or Iranian or Afghanistan or Pakistani, you are obvious, and there could be idle threats or there could be real ones. And you just don't know the difference between the two.
Apparently this was not an idle threat. There was concern for a few days before this happened that something was wrong. And before they were able to put their finger on it, the situation happened.
MCEDWARDS: What kind of concern? Can you elaborate on that at all?
HENSLEY: I believe it's been in the news, but they were provided with round the clock guards at their home, Iraqi guards who were armed. And the guards had stopped showing up for work, or showed up for work and had some excuse as to why they couldn't stay, and --
MCEDWARDS: And is that true as far as you know, the guards weren't showing up, they weren't there at the time?
HENSLEY: The morning they were abducted, there was no guard, as there should have been. And everybody was working on it, trying to figure out what's wrong, and what do we need to do. And before they had an opportunity, this happened.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: When we come back, Patty Hensley tells us more about what it's been like for her family and 13-year-old daughter since her husband was taken hostage. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: More from our interview with Patty Hensley whose husband, Jack, is one of three Westerners being held in Iraq. Our Colleen McEdwards talked to her about her family's ordeal.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCEDWARDS: What's it been like for you and your family since this happened?
HENSLEY: As you can imagine, it's been unbelievable. It's been very devastating. We have a daughter that doesn't understand, because she believes that everyone in the world is good. That's what she's been taught all this time.
To a certain extent, it's very surreal. And, you know, I've known the man 23 years. He is one of the kindest, gentlest people, who wanted to help and the last person in the world that I would have expected this to happen to.
He has no military affiliations. He's not there to fight. He's there to help the Iraqi people. And all three of these guys are all that way, and why they've been picked, I have no idea.
MCEDWARDS: So no sense why he would be targeted. How are you, as a mother coping, and how are you protecting your 13-year-old daughter from all of this?
HENSLEY: It's hard to explain to her. To be honest, I've basically just kept her in the dark. I mean, she is aware that her daddy has been kidnapped. She does not understand the full extent of what that actually means. She has not watched or followed any of the previous abductions or what has been the outcome of those.
She is not aware of the threat that we're under now. I don't believe she'd understand at all, because she believes everybody's good in the world, you know. And why they would want to hurt her dad, she would never understand.
MCEDWARDS: Was she worried about him going to Iraq to work?
HENSLEY: At first, it was like daddy going on a business trip somewhere. The magnitude of how far away and how long it took him to get there finally sunk in with her, that he's not in other state where she can just pick up the phone and call him any time she wants. He can't come home any time he wants.
That's when it began to sink in that this probably is not like previous travel he's done for business. She wasn't sure how to handle that. We are very close, thank god, and she has just relied on me to be her strength, and if need be, explain things to her, of course, I can only explain so much.
MCEDWARDS: Tell me what you think ought to be done in a situation like this. There have been countries that have sent delegations. Do you think there should be negotiations? Do you think their demands should be met to save lives? HENSLEY: Well, you know, the government's position, the United States government's position in the past, and understandably so, is that we're not going to negotiate with terrorists. There's a big part of me that supports that 100 percent, but now that it's hit home, it's harder for me to say that.
MCEDWARDS: Patty, the next hours, and day or so, are obviously going to be a really difficult time for you and your family. Just share with us how you are going to spend it, how you are being kept informed. What you've got ahead for yourself in the next few hours.
HENSLEY: A great many of church friends have gathered around, so we are praying, of course. In some ways, I hate to say it, but we're praying for the captors as well, because I don't realize they -- I don't think they realize what they've done with these three gentlemen in particular.
We are vigilantly at our house by the phone. We are just waiting for updates from anyone and everyone. I personally have not left my house since Wednesday night, until today. When you all gave me this opportunity.
It's just a lot of praying and a lot of waiting, you know, and maintaining life as normal as we can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Of course, we will continue to follow this story for you.
Up next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and "House Call", medical myths from old wives' tales to the Internet. You can find lots of advice that may not do anything to help your health. That is next, after these headlines.
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