Unit basks in glow of success

2003-12-14 18:30

Tikrit - Soldiers from the US Army's 4th Infantry Division in Saddam Hussein's hometown spent on Sunday afternoon smoking cigars and basking in the satisfaction that they had just scored the biggest triumph in Iraq since Baghdad fell in April.

"It almost seems too easy," said Ebony Jones, from Kansas City, Missouri. "This is the best thing that ever happened to us here."

Soldiers of the 4th Infantry's 1st Brigade Combat team found a downtrodden, bearded Saddam hiding in a coffin-sized underground bunker on a farm near here, Major General Ray Odierno pointed out on Sunday.

"The intimidation and fear this man generated for over 30 years is now gone," Odierno said in a prepared statement. "A significant blow has been dealt to the former regime elements still attempting to hamper progress in Iraq."

In the division's headquarters, two dozen soldiers gathered in front of a television set, cheering as their unit's accomplishment began to ripple across the airwaves, quickly dominating the news.

No one on the base said anything about their mission winding down after such a big catch. Tikrit and the rest of the Sunni Muslim areas north of Baghdad - the area under the 4th Infantry's control - remain one of the toughest patches of Iraq, with or without Saddam, they said.

"His capture will show others that they cannot run and hide," said Don Williams from Houston, Texas. "Attacks will not stop, but this will have significant impact."

"This is the real thing," said Eric Gainly. "This is simply great, but it won't stop attacks, there are people who won't stop."

- AP