下午好，昨天下午，即巴格达时间12月13日晚上八点半左右，美国军队活捉了萨达姆侯赛因。他是在提克里克城外的一个农场附近被发现的。他在一次迅速的突袭中被捕，没有人员伤亡。目前，这个剥夺了数百万民众司法公正的前伊拉克的独裁者将面对司法公正的审判。

此人的被捕对出现一个自由的伊拉克至关重要。它标志著萨达姆和那些以他的名义去进行欺凌和杀戮的人末日已到。对于该对当前仍在发生的暴力负责的复兴社会党成员来说，他们曾经拥有的腐败权力和特权将永不再来。对于大多数希望生活在自由中的伊拉克国民来说，此事更进一步地向他们确保——那些酷刑室和秘密警察将一去不返。

今天下午，我要向伊拉克国民传递一个信息：你们再也不必对萨达姆侯赛因的政权心怀恐惧。所有站在自由一侧的伊拉克人已经站在了胜利的一边。我们盟军的目标与你们的目标一致：保障你们的国家主权、你们伟大文化的尊严，以及伊拉克国民人人获得更好生活的机会。

在伊拉克的历史上，一个黑暗而痛苦的时代终结了。一个充满希望的日子已经到来。所有的伊拉克人现在可以走到一起，拒绝暴力，建立一个新的伊拉克。

昨天行动的成功归功于我们所有在伊拉克服役的士兵。该行动基于我们情报分析人员的杰出工作，他们在这个广大的国家中发现了独裁者的行踪。该军事行动由一支勇敢的军队有技巧地和精确地实施。我们的士兵和我们的盟军在追捕这个垮台政权的成员、努力把希望和自由带给伊拉克民众的过程中面对了很多危险。他们的工作还在继续，危险也并未消失。今天，我代表我们的国家感谢我们的军人，并向他们表示祝贺。

我也传递给所有美国人这样一个信息：萨达姆侯赛因的被捕并不意味著暴力在伊拉克的结束。我们仍旧面临著恐怖分子的威胁，他们宁可去杀掉无辜的人也不接受在中东的心脏地带建立起的自由。这样的人对美国人是直接的威胁，也必将面临著失败。

经过耐心、决心和集中行动，我们迎来了这个时刻。我们的战略会继续推进。对恐怖主义的战争是不一样的战争，一个个地逮捕，一点点地搜索，一步步地胜利。我们的坚韧不拔和对自由必胜的深信保障著我们的安全。美国决不会姑息，直到战争胜利为止。

上帝保佑伊拉克人。上帝保佑美国。谢谢。

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.

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.

(大纪元)