Notice the comment from the French President. This capture of Saddam should provide Bush an opportunity to get out of Iraq without further loss of American lives.
Reaction to the capture
Sunday December 14, 2003
The Observer
Paul Bremer, civilian head of the US-led administration
Ladies and gentlemen, we got him.
Tony Blair, prime minister
I very much welcome the capture last night of Saddam Hussein. I pay tribute to the work of the coalition intelligence and military forces in capturing him. This is very good news for the people of Iraq.
It removes the shadow that has been hanging over them for too long of the nightmare of a return to the Saddam regime. This fear is now removed. It also gives an opportunity for Saddam to be tried in Iraqi courts for his crimes against the Iraqi people.
And it gives us an opportunity to take a step forward in Iraq. In particular I appeal for the Sunni community and former Baathist officials to grasp the opportunity for reconciliation. We should try now to unite the whole of Iraq in rebuilding the country and offering it a new future.
Gerhard Schroeder, German chancellor
Telegram to US president George Bush: "It's with great delight that I learned of Saddam Hussein's capture. I congratulate you on this successful operation. Saddam Hussein caused horrible suffering to his people and the region. I hope the capture will help the international community's effort to rebuild and stabilise Iraq.
Jacques Chirac, French president
This is a major event which should strongly contribute to the democratisation and the stabilisation of Iraq and allow the Iraqis to once more be masters of their destiny in a sovereign Iraq.
Hoshiyar Zebari, Iraq's interim foreign minister
This is the happiest news, the best news. We have waited for so long. This will have a tremendous effect on the morale of his loyalists who may have been under the illusion that he would reappear. The people will be more willing to work together to reconstruct a democratic Iraq.
Mohammad Alu Abtahi, Iranian vice president
If it is correct it is very good news. Saddam should be prosecuted because of the crimes he has committed against the Iraqi and Iranian people. Iranians have suffered a lot because of him and mass graves in Iraq prove the crimes he has committed against the Iraqi people. The news of the arrest of a criminal has made me very happy.
Professor Nadir Ahmad, a member of the group Iraqi Exiles in the UK
We are very very happy. The entire community is happy. We are going to celebrate with fireworks. This is a big day for Iraqi people all over the world and marks the turning point in the history of our country. This should improve security in Iraq as many people still believed he was waiting to come back.
Ana Palacio, Spanish foreign minister
Today is a great day for the liberty of the Iraqi people. The terrible shadow of this bloody dictator is going to vanish and the quality of their liberty will be enhanced.
Tam Dalyell, Father of the House of Commons
I welcome the capture of a brutal dictator. There must be a trial on an international basis with international observers, and not a kangaroo court, either Iraqi or American.
There should be caution against the expectation that rebellion against the coalition is automatically over. The fact that the Kurds are claiming not only to have provided the crucial information for his capture but also to have killed his sons could stir up ethnic tensions.
Mustafa Alani, analyst at the Royal United Services Institute
For the Americans after the failure to capture Osama bin Laden after so many years, it is a propaganda coup [...] It's an intelligence prize because they can get information from him about cells working now. And it's a huge victory because he was the head of the regime and not like anyone else on the list of 55 most wanted. |
