Illinois Lawmakers Ponder Long-Term Effects of Capture
Eric Krol - Chicago Daily Herald
December 15, 2003
As late as last Thursday
morning, Sen. Dick Durbin, who sits on a Senate intelligence panel, said he
was "very skeptical" the U.S. soon would capture Saddam Hussein.
But on Sunday morning, the nation awoke to find Iraq's deposed despot had been
captured, bearded and bewildered-looking, in a hidden hole next to a hut near
his Tikrit hometown.
The rapid turnaround showed how quickly the tide can change in hide-and-seek
military missions. Illinois' suburban congressional delegation disagreed along
party lines, however, on whether Saddam's capture will turn the tide in the
terror war.
"This is a great day for the Iraqi people. It is a great day for the American
people. And it is a great day in the war on terror," said Republican U.S.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Yorkville.
Congressman Henry J. Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations
Committee, was focused on how to best put Saddam on trial for killing so many
of his people. Hyde said the first option should be to allow the Iraqis a
chance to create a court to try him. And Hyde said Saddam's penalty should be
death.
"Assuming there is proof he is accountable for the killings, I would not
blanch at the death penalty," said Hyde, a Wood Dale Republican.
Congressman Phil Crane, a Wauconda Republican, called Saddam's capture a
"tremendous victory" against terrorism.
But Democratic U.S. Rep. Jan
Schakowsky of Evanston vehemently disagreed about the capture's
significance as she applauded the military effort.
"The capture of Saddam Hussein is not about the war on terror. This is about
Iraq and Saddam Hussein, not about Osama bin Laden, or those who attacked or
plotted against the United States," she said. "In my view, this war has been a
diversion from the war on terror in terms of troops, money and intelligence
assets."
Democrat Durbin was taking a wait-and-see attitude about the capture's effect
on Iraqi reconstruction.
"We're hoping the capture will break the back of the resistance (in Iraq), but
only time will tell," said Durbin, who was in downstate Carbondale attending
the funeral of former Sen. Paul Simon.
As for the troops, Congressman Mark Kirk, a Highland Park Republican, said
Saddam's capture boosts morale.
"They have high morale as long as their work is important and they're part of
a winning team. This is hard evidence that they are part of that winning
team," said Kirk, an officer in the Naval reserves.
