Shelley Moore Capito, March 2, 2004

Saddam Hussein was hiding in a hole dug underneath a farmhouse when U.S. Army Colonel James Hickey and the 4th Infantrys 1st Brigade captured him on Saturday, December 13, 2003 near his hometown of Tikrit, Iraq.

I had the opportunity to meet Colonel Hickey and soldiers from the 4th ID, as we got to know them from television accounts, who faced the brunt of the Saddam Husseins resistance and was among the first to liberate the Iraqi people. I was impressed with the soldiers I met because they were dealing with dangerous and difficult situations, such as the threat of sniper attack, land mines exploding, and suicide bombers. At the same time showing compassion for Iraqis who are happy to have our soldiers protecting them and eager to build their new country.

During a visit to one of the Saddam Husseins palatial 100 room palaces in Tikrit I couldnt help but notice the stark contrast between Hussein's extravagant lifestyle and the desert farmhouses where many Iraqis live. Today, Saddam Hussein is in jail and will soon face the same justice he denied to thousands of his own citizens. The Iraqi people are rebuilding their country that had been grossly neglected by Saddam Hussein. I visited the Doura Power Plant, which when returned to full service will provide enough power for hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.

The Mountain State is well represented in Iraq and Afghanistan. I was able to meet with and speak to soldiers from Berkeley, Mason, Putnam, Greenbrier, and Cabell counties. In addition to serving in the military, West Virginians are working as security personal with the Coalition Provisional Authority.

In Afghanistan our soldiers are helping erase a haven for terrorists from the map of the world. The Army Corp of Engineers is currently removing thousands of land mines that remain from decades of war. They are also helping to build a major highway that connects Kandahar and Kabul, which will help build Afghanistans economy by linking the two major cities.

We want to get our troops home as soon as possible, but we must remember they are helping hunt down terrorists who want to hurt and kill Americans. Over two-thirds of Al Quaeda has been captured or killed and we are on the hunt for the remaining terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden. Their days are numbered because of the job our troops are doing.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, represents West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Charleston.