Maine delegation praises raid

Maine’s congressional delegation was quick and positive in its reaction to the capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. But the news won’t mean any immediate reprieve for troops headed to Iraq.

The capture should eventually be good news to Maine troops. In the shorter term, however, Saturday’s capture of Saddam will not change plans to mobilize National Guard troops from Maine, said the state’s top military official, Maj. Gen. Joseph Tinkham II.

About 650 troops are being called to active duty after Jan. 1, the adjutant general said

Rep. Michael Michaud said the capture of the dictator was “a victory for the troops who have sacrificed so much. Their dedication brought us to where we are today.”

Sen. Susan Collins said, “The capture of Saddam Hussein is great news for the people of Iraq and a tremendous victory for our troops. When I was in Iraq in July, I learned how important it was to capture Saddam to reassure many Iraqis who feared his eventual return to power. The mass grave I saw was a powerful testament to Saddam’s brutal and repressive regime.

“Saddam’s apprehension should help the coalition forces and the Iraqi people move forward in establishing a free and secure country,” Collins said.

Sen. Olympia Snowe called the capture a historic turning point.

“The world community is right to celebrate this decisive end to Hussein’s brutality and reign of fear which had continued to permeate an Iraq seeking to build a brighter future,” Snowe said.

Snowe said the United States and coalition partners would be able to concentrate more on the establishment of a representative government.

“I applaud President Bush for his steadfastness, and certainly the men and women of our armed forces whose courage and deliberate approach resulted in this capture,” Snowe said. “As a member of the intelligence committee, I am particularly pleased that, based on reports, the enhanced use of intelligence played a vital role and I thank the dedicated men and women of our intelligence community.”

U.S. Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, said the building of a new Iraqi government still has many obstacles ahead, but that the capture of Saddam is a start.

“I think the resistance will probably continue, but this will help diminish it, I think,” Allen said. “We’ve got 130,000 people over there getting shot at. And if this helps reduce the violence, that will be very helpful.”

Former Defense Secretary William Cohen told CNN that Americans celebrating Saddam’s capture should also keep in mind that his supporters aren’t the only ones who have been attacking and menacing coalition troops.

“There are elements other than Baathists or Saddam loyalists who are out there who seek to bring as much destruction to the American forces and our allies in the coalition as possible,” said Cohen, a former U.S. senator.