Washington, D.C. - Congressman Kevin Brady (R-The Woodlands) issued the following statement regarding the capture of Saddam Hussein by U.S. military forces in Iraq.

"The capture of Saddam Hussein is a crucial victory for the forces of freedom and the people of Iraq. I am terribly proud of our American fighting men and women who successfully achieved this difficult mission.

"Thank goodness President Bush ignored the critics of this war who clamor for retreat from international terrorism. Had they prevailed, today Hussein would be dictating from his palace rather than cowering in a hole, burying more Iraqi lives in mass graves rather than facing justice for his brutal crimes.

"In the test of wills between freedom and terrorism, freedom is winning. And even though we will likely see an increase in street fighting in Iraq in the short term, the capture of Hussein marks the beginning of the end of the war in Iraq."