Family, friends fear for local civilians in Iraq

Lawrence residents, especially friends and relatives of local civilians working there, expressed horror Wednesday at the beheading of an American contractor in Iraq.

“It’s just unbelievable,” said Doug Wasson, whose 24-year-old daughter, Casey, has been working in Iraq as a civilian since fall 2003. “It just shows you what we’re dealing with there.”

Don Schaake also was stunned at the news that Nicholas Berg, a 26-year-old American working in Iraq, was beheaded in a videotape posted Tuesday on a militant Web site. Schaake’s son, Kurt Schaake, went to Iraq last year to work as a civil engineering contractor.

“This latest was a little bit hard to take,” Don Schaake said.

But both Wasson and Schaake are breathing easier these days. Kurt Schaake returned to his home in Colorado Springs, Colo., about two weeks ago. Casey Wasson left Iraq Wednesday for Kuwait and was expected to arrive Saturday in Washington, D.C., her father said.

“Barbara and I are very pleased,” Doug Wasson said, referring to his wife.

Another Lawrence man, Rick Morris, is still in Baghdad, where he is chief of American firefighters under the Central Provisional Authority. Floyd Bost, a close friend here in Lawrence, said Morris had his own brushes with death.

“He says it’s very strange over there right now,” said Bost, who sometimes talks to Morris by telephone.

Morris already has survived a piece of shrapnel that him in the chest, Bost said.

“He had his (flak) jacket on,” Bost said. “It knocked him down but he wasn’t hurt.”

Pictures of American contractor Nick Berg, sitting in front of his captors moments before the beheading, are upsetting, Bost said.

“I just thought, ‘How sick some people can be?'” Bost said.

Doug Wasson doesn’t think his daughter will want to return to Iraq. Schaake isn’t sure about his son, Kurt.

“He still likes the people over there, and he still thinks he was doing some good,” Don Schaake said.

The beheading was uppermost in the minds of others in Lawrence, as well:

Allison Gabbard, Kansas University senior, Topeka

“I think it’s completely tragic. I was looking at it online yesterday, and I thought it was interesting to note that they won’t actually show the beheading online. But they’re showing every photograph of the Iraqi prisoners in compromising positions. I think we should be allowed to see the whole thing.

“There’s a difference between embarrassment and murder. That was wrong what we did; I don’t think either one of them should have been done.”

Erin Kirby, KU senior, Los Angeles

“Ever since they published the prison photos, it was just inevitable. It’s being used as a political platform.

“When you’re over there you’re pretty much a pawn of foreign policy. It was clearly meant for shock value, which is exactly what they want.”

Lester Caldwell, Lawrence

“A lot of people in America feel we shouldn’t be over there in the first place. As far as (Bush) getting re-elected, I doubt it. What’s going on now is like Vietnam.”

Angela Caldwell, Lawrence

“They’re (Iraqis) very upset. And I can’t blame them.

“It’s terrible what happened. You can’t take an eye for an eye. You remember how in the old days someone used to knock a chip off someone’s shoulder? That’s exactly what’s going on.”

Laron Caldwell, an ex-Marine, Lawrence

“It’s horrible. I imagine it will probably provoke a lot of reaction. It’s already been broadcast worldwide. You’re either going to get a reaction out of them or over here. Someone’s going to say something, and it’s going to get worse now.”