The Santa Cruz Sentinel December 28, 2013
It was the second week in January of 1991. I was in the sanctuary of a large Catholic Church in Baghdad. Every votive candle in the place was lit, no doubt in support of prayers for loved ones in anticipation of the massive U.S. bombing campaign, which was to be known as Operation Desert Storm, which was soon to commence. A member of our group asked the priest whose side the church would be on in the forthcoming conflict. He replied that “the church can only be on one side — that of the victims.” Little did he realize that, less than 20 years later, Iraq’s Christians would become among the greatest victims.