Washington: President George Bush declared on April 15 that "our victory in Iraq is
certain, but not complete'', as he voiced satisfaction with US military success in
ending the regime of Saddam Hussein.
"These are good days in the history of freedom,'' Bush said at the White House.
"In Iraq, the regime of Saddam Hussein is no more,'' Bush said.
"Today the world is safer. The terrorists have lost an ally. The Iraqi people are
regaining control of their own destiny,'' he said.
The President spoke a day after the Defence Department declared that major combat
had ended in Iraq.
"Our victory in Iraq is certain but it is not complete," Bush said. "Centralised
power of the dictator is ended, yet in parts of Iraq, desperate and dangerous
elements remain. Forces of our coalition will engage these enemies until they
surrender or until they're destroyed.''
Bush made the comments on the war at a rally for his tax--cut proposals.
It was Bush's first comments on the progress of the war since Saddam's hometown and
last stronghold of Tikrit fell on April 14. War planners are now restructuring and
enlarging the American force as sporadic fighting winds down and troops increasingly
focus on providing humanitarian aid and looking for weapons of mass destruction.
"We'll help destroy the former regime's weapons of mass destruction and we'll help
the Iraqi people establish a just and representative government which respects Human
Rights, and adheres to the rule of law,'' Bush said.
