STUDENT WITH FAMILY IN KUWAIT HOPES U.S. WILL LIBERATE COUNTRY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Southeast Missouri State University student, who grew up in Kuwait, said he hopes the U.S.-led assault on Iraq will soon liberate his country.

"To the best of my knowledge and understanding, there seemed to be no way to get Saddam Hussein out of there peacefully," said Samih Ayoub, 22, who currently resides in Cape Girardeau.

Ayoub grew up in Kuwait, but has spent the last three and a half years studying in the United States.

"Many countries tried in different ways to negotiate with Iraq," he noted. "They (Iraqis) are very stubborn about it. They claim that Kuwait belongs to them."

Said Ayoub, "Nothing that the United States and the United Nations did made Saddam Hussein peacefully leave Kuwait. War is the only solution and hopefully (the Iraqis) will get out of there very soon."

Contacted at his Cape Girardeau residence late Wednesday night, Ayoub said he had been watching and listening to news accounts about the air assault against Iraq.

"I might not sleep tonight," said Ayoub, who has a brother and sister living in Kuwait. He said he has had no communication with them since shortly after the Iraqi invasion last August.

"I'm surely very scared for them and for all the innocent people in both Iraq and Kuwait," said Ayoub.

He recalled that Kuwait had been a peaceful place before Iraq invaded the tiny, oil-rich nation. "We had enough of everything. We never expected war."

Ayoub said he hopes the military action will be quick and decisive. "I am very confident of the American superiority in the air over Iraq."

Ayoub said he would like to visit his relatives in Kuwait, following completion of his studies this semester.