下午好，昨天下午，即巴格達時間12月13日晚上八點半左右，美國軍隊活捉了薩達姆侯賽因。他是在提克里克城外的一個農場附近被發現的。他在一次迅速的突襲中被捕，沒有人員傷亡。目前，這個剝奪了數百萬民衆司法公正的前伊拉克的獨裁者將面對司法公正的審判。

此人的被捕對出現一個自由的伊拉克至關重要。它標誌著薩達姆和那些以他的名義去進行欺凌和殺戮的人末日已到。對於該對當前仍在發生的暴力負責的復興社會黨成員來說，他們曾經擁有的腐敗權力和特權將永不再來。對於大多數希望生活在自由中的伊拉克國民來說，此事更進一步地向他們確保——那些酷刑室和祕密警察將一去不返。

今天下午，我要向伊拉克國民傳遞一個信息：你們再也不必對薩達姆侯賽因的政權心懷恐懼。所有站在自由一側的伊拉克人已經站在了勝利的一邊。我們盟軍的目標與你們的目標一致：保障你們的國家主權、你們偉大文化的尊嚴，以及伊拉克國民人人獲得更好生活的機會。

在伊拉克的歷史上，一個黑暗而痛苦的時代終結了。一個充滿希望的日子已經到來。所有的伊拉克人現在可以走到一起，拒絕暴力，建立一個新的伊拉克。

昨天行動的成功歸功於我們所有在伊拉克服役的士兵。該行動基於我們情報分析人員的傑出工作，他們在這個廣大的國家中發現了獨裁者的行蹤。該軍事行動由一支勇敢的軍隊有技巧地和精確地實施。我們的士兵和我們的盟軍在追捕這個垮臺政權的成員、努力把希望和自由帶給伊拉克民衆的過程中面對了很多危險。他們的工作還在繼續，危險也並未消失。今天，我代表我們的國家感謝我們的軍人，並向他們表示祝賀。

我也傳遞給所有美國人這樣一個信息：薩達姆侯賽因的被捕並不意味著暴力在伊拉克的結束。我們仍舊面臨著恐怖分子的威脅，他們寧可去殺掉無辜的人也不接受在中東的心臟地帶建立起的自由。這樣的人對美國人是直接的威脅，也必將面臨著失敗。

經過耐心、決心和集中行動，我們迎來了這個時刻。我們的戰略會繼續推進。對恐怖主義的戰爭是不一樣的戰爭，一個個地逮捕，一點點地搜索，一步步地勝利。我們的堅韌不拔和對自由必勝的深信保障著我們的安全。美國決不會姑息，直到戰爭勝利爲止。

上帝保佑伊拉克人。上帝保佑美國。謝謝。

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.

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