Cautiously noting a milestone in the Iraq war, President George W. Bush, today said Saddam Hussein’s capture ‘‘marks the end of the road for him’’ but not the end of violence in Iraq.In brief televised remarks at the White House, Bush said Saddam will ‘‘face the justice he denied to millions’’ but gave no details on what will happen to the Iraqi leader.‘‘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. But 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,’’ Bush said in his first remarks on Saddam’s capture. The three-minute speech from the White House Cabinet Room was far more low-key than President Bush’s May 1 address aboard an aircraft carrier, where he declared major combat operations over.Bush, who made a secret trip to see US troops in Baghdad on the Thanksgiving holiday last month, said the operation to capture Saddam was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts. He thanked US Forces on behalf of a grateful nation. Bush had 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.’’ —Reuters
