I would say talk to 100 different combat soldiers that have served in places like Afghanistan and Iraq over the last several years. What do you say to those who are weary of war or don’t believe that victory is possible at this point? We are winning the war, and we must honor the sacrifice that has made that possible by letting our soldiers finish the job. Recent trips to Iraq have only confirmed this. I still believe the biggest challenge we face is our commitment at home. What is the greatest obstacle currently in the war on terror? Our nation has stepped up to that challenge in this generation with its men and women in uniform, but we have been less successful with commitment and fortitude at home. I think it is the realization that there are radical elements that still abide in our world and that we will always have need to take a stand and face them. Other than the capture of Saddam, what is the greatest achievement that we’ve had in the war on terror? But for every success, there were 20 times that we came up with nothing, and we also had to contend with a very violent insurgency at the same time. Through great cooperation with conventional and unconventional forces, we built a responsive team that was able to act very quickly as time went on. We had pieces of a giant puzzle that we were eventually able to tie together. What was the most difficult part of capturing Saddam?įor us, it was unraveling the family network that protected him. Should he become more active, I believe he will be found. So, on the one hand, he is hard to find but on the other, he has become more and more irrelevant other than as a murderous wanted criminal. Consequently, his ability and Al Qaeda’s to influence Islamic sentiment and world affairs has been greatly diminished. He has no contact with his family (who has disowned him), takes an elusive role and works by proxies from one of the most remote and isolated regions of the world. Because of this, he was well protected, but he left a trail of activity that we were able to follow.
COLONEL SADDAM HUSSEIN CAPTURE SERIES
You have to remember that Saddam was very active in his role trying to inspire an insurgency and relied on a series of family networks to harbor him. had more success capturing Saddam than we have capturing Bin Laden? As a national speaker, I have talked to Americans all across the country and hear very similar concerns-accountability of our tax dollars, less government intrusion in our lives and an expectation of lawmakers to provide the things we expect from government such as public safety and decent education at the most reasonable cost.Īs a key player in the hunt for Saddam Hussein, why do you think that the U.S. I don’t think Oklahoma is much different from anywhere else in our country really. What are the biggest issues facing Oklahomans that you hope to impact? People are so cynical about elected officials, and I wanted to continue to serve locally and try to make life better with the skills and experience I have gained over the years as a soldier. I am still asking myself that question! Seriously, I recognized when I came home from a lifetime of service to my country that the only thing that stands between good government and bad is the type of person who runs.
What led to your decision to run for office? In November, was elected to the senate in his home state of Oklahoma.Ĭongrats on your recent election to the Oklahoma State Senate. LTC Russell speaks across the country, rallying the American public to support the troops with victory, not just words. Lieutenant Colonel Steve Russell commanded the unit that was a central player in the hunt and capture of Saddam Hussein.
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