Murkowski Statement on the Capture of Saddam Hussein

MURKOWSKI: CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN MEANS NEW DAY FOR IRAQI PEOPLE; GREAT ACHIEVEMENT FOR U.S. MILITARY, INTELLIGENCE

ANCHORAGE -- U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski this morning said the capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is a great achievement for United States military and intelligence forces in Iraq, but is far more important for the Iraqi people who can now know that the dictator's regime of terror is utterly finished and he will never return to power.

Murkowski had the following initial reaction to the capture of Hussein:
"This is the best present that the people of Iraq could have received. It is a key step to convincing the Iraqi people that Saddam Hussein will never again come back to power to renew his reign of terror and torture against his own citizens. His capture and his trial that will follow should psychologically help Iraqis to put the past 25 years behind them and give them the encouragement needed for them to join more openly in the construction of a Democratic Iraq.

"This offers the real chance that Iraqis will now pull together to slow the violence and work to create a peaceful Iraq to again take its rightful place among the nations of the world. The capture of Hussein is enormously helpful in that it will provide a stronger foundation for a transition to a Democracy in Iraq. But no one should think it will magically produce peace. We have a long way yet to go to stabilize Iraq, to overcome the elements of Al Queda and royalists of the former Baath Party that still will want to spread terror and chaos in hopes of derailing peace efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and throughout the Middle East.

"Still, the capture of Hussein alive, so that he can stand trial for his international crimes and his crimes against his own people, is a true milestone on the road to a more peaceful and stable Iraq. Great credit should go to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces, to our intelligence community and to President Bush for his leadership, patience and determination to stay the course in Iraq. The President's resolve and steadfastness on the issue, in spite of attacks and criticism, show his leadership in the national security and foreign affairs areas," said Sen. Murkowski.