Terry Everett, April 14, 2003

Last Wednesday, the world was glued to TV screens displaying dramatic images of the real-time collapse of Saddam Hussein's hated regime in the heart of his capital city. The emotional and powerful pictures of the brutal dictator's statues being brought down evoked memories of the toppling of Lenin in the old Iron Curtain countries of Eastern Europe more than a decade ago. Like his regime's icons, Saddam may be gone from power, but the work of American forces in Iraq is not over.

On all fronts - the south, the north, the west, and in Baghdad - Coalition military forces have made remarkable progress is routing Saddam's defenses and taking most of Iraq in only three weeks. Preliminary reports that ordinary Iraqis would not welcome our liberating forces have turned out to be just that - preliminary. Now that the citizens of Iraq know Saddam's hated 30-year rule is at an end there is widespread jubilation. But not all are welcoming us. Regime hold-outs and terrorist suicide bombers continue to target our forces in a desperate but futile attempt to cling to the old order.

As Operation Iraqi Freedom progresses, the Coalition will work to root out Saddam's followers, put down remaining resistance, and restore the rule of law to the country. For sure, this is a task equally challenging to the one we faced dismantling Saddam's regime. Our Commander-in-Chief and our military are fully committed to completing this mission which also includes bringing Saddam and his henchmen (those not already dead) to trial, identifying and eliminating his weapons of mass destruction, capturing and driving out terrorists seeking refuge in Iraq, and finally, returning that nation to its people.

All of the work to be done in Iraq will not involve armed action. The Coalition is also committed to ending sanctions against Iraq and delivering humanitarian relief to the people. Indeed, these operations are now underway as food, water and medical supplies are being delivered daily by the ton. Iraq's people can also look forward to the benefits of their country's vast oil wealth. It has been protected from sabotage from Saddam's followers and will be safeguarded for use by the new and democratic Iraqi government.

President Bush has promised the Iraqi people that the United States and the Coalition will not abandon them in their hour of need. As we restore order to Iraq and help their new government take the reins of power, the United States will also play a critical role in the rebuilding effort. The President strongly believes that those nations which participated in and supported the Coalition should have the major role in Iraqi reconstruction. I agree.

On April 3, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Nethercutt-Kennedy Amendment prohibiting American tax dollars from being used to contract with French, German, Russian and Syrian firms for the rebuilding of Iraq. This amendment to the 2003 wartime supplemental spending bill sends an undeniable signal that we appreciate those nations which had the courage to join the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and our other Coalition allies in making the world safer from terrorism, and that we will remember those who chose to block our efforts to end Saddam's brutal dictatorship.

Congressman Terry Everett represents Alabama's Seventh Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.