U.S. military archbishop sees hope, duty in trips to Iraq

Published: 2004-01-27

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- On the basis of two trips to visit Catholics of his archdiocese, Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said, "I think morale is still good" among the 100,000-plus troops serving in Iraq. That is not to say that Iraq is not fraught with danger. "On any given day, there are 30,000 military vehicles -- most of them American -- on the road in Iraq," Archbishop O'Brien said. "That puts us at greater vulnerability" from insurgent Iraqi forces that are trying to dislodge the American occupation following the toppling of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime, he said. But "generally, they say, security has improved," he noted. The capture of Saddam was a significant morale boost, according to the archbishop, who added that there are "so many leads" now about the "middle management" of the fallen regime it's difficult to sort through them all. Archbishop O'Brien was interviewed by Catholic News Service in January, after the second of two trips he made in two months to visit Catholic soldiers and chaplains in Iraq.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .