December 30, 2006—Deposed tyrant of the people of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was hanged on Saturday for crimes against humanity.  He was led to the gallows by Iraqi officials who were once oppressed under his rule. Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), who has traveled to Iraq, and currently serves on the U.S. House of Representatives Committees on Armed Services and Judiciary, issued the following remarks:

 “Saddam Hussein attacked Iraqi citizens with chemical weapons and brutally repressed, tortured and murdered those who disagreed with him.  He forced Iraqis to celebrate pictures of him as if he were divine when in fact, he was a small, despicable man with a large arsenal and a cold heart.”

Franks continued, “His total disregard for innocent human life earned him the title, “Butcher of Baghdad”, but his days, like all mortal men, were numbered and he was found guilty by an Iraqi court and was executed, at the appropriately named “Camp Justice”, by Iraqis he once oppressed.  One more heartless enemy of liberty and human dignity has left this world and the courageous people of Iraq have reached another milestone on their path to freedom.”

Trent Franks is the Congressman from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona.  He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee