Chaldean Catholics say Iraqi citizens feel caught in line of fire

Published: 2003-11-18

SAN DIEGO (CNS) -- After decades of terror under former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, many Iraqi citizens now fear being caught in the line of fire between coalition forces and those launching attacks against the troops, according to interviews with U.S. Chaldean Catholic leaders. U.S. Chaldean bishops, a Syriac priest and other Iraqis deplored the assaults, which they say are being carried out by Muslim fundamentalists. They said they hoped a new constitution for Iraq will guarantee the kind of freedoms for Iraqis that they enjoy in the United States, but they differed on the degree of U.S. control necessary for the reconstruction of their homeland. A San Diego County resident who works as an interpreter in Iraq for the U.S. Department of Defense said that "security is almost nil" in Baghdad. Thousands of prisoners released by Saddam before he was toppled have formed groups with established territories in Baghdad, where they kill, steal, rape, and kidnap for ransom, according to the interpreter, who is known as Sargon (not his real name).

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