Joe Wilson: “Yesterday, 3 weeks to the day after operation Iraqi Freedom began, the larger-than-life statue of Saddam Hussein in…”

“Yesterday, 3 weeks to the day after operation Iraqi Freedom began, the larger-than-life statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad's Paradise Square was torn down amid celebration by Iraqi citizens, an event very similar to the crumbling of the Berlin Wall. Promoted by President Ronald Reagan, this symbolic gesture signals the downfall of this totalitarian regime. The Iraqi people are certainly entitled to celebrate. Thirty years of brutal oppression are finally coming to an end thanks to the leadership and determination of our President, George W. Bush. I applaud the coalition forces for their courage and a dedication beyond compare. The loss of American lives, though tragic, has been reduced, and our mission efficient and effective, as I saw in February when I was encouraged by visiting the troops in Kuwait. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families who have suffered losses and our soldiers who continue to fight for the freedom of Iraq and an end to terrorism, which seeks to spread weapons of mass destruction against American citizens. It is our hope that the Iraqi people will be able to use the unique riches of their country to build a new life for themselves based upon the principles of freedom and liberty. May God bless our troops, and may God bless the newly freed people of Iraq.”