President Bush Addresses Nation on the Capture of Saddam Hussein

The White House ^ | 12/14/2003 | President George W Bush

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President Bush Addresses Nation on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
Remarks by the President on the Capture of Saddam Hussein
The Cabinet Room

12:15 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Yesterday, December the 13th, at around 8:30 p.m. Baghdad time, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. He was found near a farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid conducted without casualties. And now the former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions.

President George W. Bush addresses the nation on the capture of Saddam Hussein from the Cabinet Room, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003. White House photo by Eric Draper. The capture of this man was crucial to the rise of a free Iraq. It marks the end of the road for him, and for all who bullied and killed in his name. For the Baathist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever.

And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people: You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life.

In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq.

The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them.

I also have a message for all Americans: The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated.

We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action. And that is our strategy moving forward. The war on terror is a different kind of war, waged capture by capture, cell by cell, and victory by victory. Our security is assured by our perseverance and by our sure belief in the success of liberty. And the United States of America will not relent until this war is won.

May God bless the people of Iraq, and may God bless America. Thank you.

END 12:18 P.M. EST

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[YaYa123]

thank you for posting this. Makes you wonder how President Bush's political enemies can contine to attack him, how they never never seem to admire him, or believe he really is a man of his word.

His enemies will never figure him out they can't, because they can't fathom a man really being good and honest, and true to his word, and honestly trying to do the right thing for the right reasons...not acting just for poll numbers and re-election.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Another upside for Bush is that by showing the narrow caves etc, the Dems can be seen as trivializing the search for Saddam. This was very difficult and very complicated. Job well done.

[kjam22]

Yep... Bush played his "ace in the hole" and Hillary is for sure not running now.

[SuzanneC]

People tend to view others through the window of their own soul. Their opinion of President Bush tells me more about them than they realize.

[truthandlife]

[anniegetyourgun]

"We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action."

Lib/dem distractions notwithstanding.

[YaYa123]

I wasn't familiar with the term "spider hole". My husband told me that's what they were called in Viet Nam, and they were common there. That the Viet Cong dug these holes, hid down there, lying on their backs, with rifles aimed upward, to kill even as they hid. .

And as I type I listen to idiot head Judy Woodruff ask Vernon Loeb, Wash Post reporter, "just how difficult was it to find Saddam?" DUH!

[gov_bean_ counter]

That was the expression used by one of the Fox retired military analysts. Wouldn't even call it a cave.

[WorkingClassFilth]

I'm not a rabid President Bush fan, but the man can serve up a fine dish of revenge with a good whup-@ss chaser. Good on him and the US forces - all over the world.

A pox on the left and their craven leaders. Like Saddam, may their duplicity and evil find them out and may they end their days hiding in crevices beneath animal barns.

[ppaul]

They're Gonna Put Me in the Movies

They're gonna put me in the movies
They're gonna make a big star out of me
They'll make a film about a man that's sad and lonely
And all I gotta do is act naturally...

[anymouse]

I say we let Col. West "interogate" Saddam.

[GeronL]

I thought Newsweek's cover had already been printed??

[Salvation]

Bush Address Ping!

[Salvation]

**I say we let Col. West "interogate" Saddam.**

YES!

[blackie]

GWB Is The Man!

[theDentist]

The same speech, as heard by the Democrats/Liberals throughout the nation:

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Yesterday, December the 13th, at around 8:30 p.m. Baghdad time, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. So I'm going to win reelection. I'm going to win. I'm going to win in 2004. I'm going to win reelection to the Presidency.

I'm going to win the reelection. That's the way it is. You will lose. I will win. I'm going to win reelection. I'm going to win. Me. Win. Re-Election. As. President. Me, yes me. I am going to win reelection. And I'm going to win BIG. Whoever you choose will lose, and I'm going to win the election. Moi. I'm going to win. Me. President George Bush. Say it. Bush wins reelection. I'm going to win. May God Bless America.

[cricket]

I am concerned about that Saddam's responses are being reported amost as quickly as he makes them; whether he is being 'defiant' or 'compliant'. Just think Saddam's interrogations do not deserve a public forum at this time.

This kind of rhetoric from Saddam only serves his image; it does not serve those who are just now becoming convinced that he is not returning to power.

Reporting every nuance. . .'defiant today'; 'compliant' yesterday; and this morning's Saddam news bulletin on Fox News that he is promising, "I will return to power" cannot ease the tensions of Iraquis - not of his friends; not of his enemies or his victims.

This is not nearly as innocuous reporting as they might imagine. IMHO, of course.

Like to hear only that he is responsive.

[findingtruth]

The President should have added that no longer will frightened American children have to ask, "Daddy, is Saddam going to kill us with nerve gas tonight? Is he going to knock our house down like he knocked down the World Trade Center?"