U.S. leaders thrilled with Saddam's arrest

NEW YORK, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Leading American lawmakers expressed joy, praise and thanksgiving Sunday for the capture and arrest in Iraq of Saddam Hussein.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, appearing on "Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace," said Sunday that he and President Bush talked joyfully about how Saddam's arrest might speed Iraq's full recovery and independence.

"I talked to the president this morning, who called it an enchanting day for Iraqis. This oppressive burden has been released from the Iraqi people. The president said this shows how the coalition forces are accomplishing their objectives."

Frist's Senate colleagues expressed gratitude and praise at the arrest.

"Hallelujah and praise the Lord, the homicidal maniac that caused the death of one million people is caught," Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said on NBC's "Meet the Press" where he appeared with three other Republicans.

"It's a day of glory for the United States and a day of triumph for anyone in the world who values human rights."

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., directed his gratitude to the covert agents who set up the raid of the farm some 10 miles south of Tikrit where Saddam was found Saturday evening.

"I'd like to give the intelligence community some praise. It's taken some knocks; we missed him in the first go-around, and on the second try we found the spider in the hole," said Roberts, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.