President Bush says U.S. troops are getting closer to capturing Saddam Hussein and are making progress in rounding up members of the former regime.
"Slowly but surely," President Bush said U.S. troops are bringing to justice former Iraqi officials who he says terrorized their fellow citizens. While Mr. Bush could not say how close U.S. forces are to capturing Saddam Hussein, he said they are closing-in.
I don't know how close we are to getting Saddam Hussein. Closer than we were yesterday, I guess," he said. "All I know is we are on the hunt. If you had asked me right before we got his sons how close we were to getting his sons, I'd say 'I don't know, but we are on the hunt.'"
President Bush said last week's killing of Saddam's sons has changed attitudes in Iraq where he said more and more people are beginning to believe that the former Baathist regime will not return to power.
As more Iraqis realize "freedom is real," Mr. Bush said they will become more involved in the country's transitional authority and the responsibilities that come with a free society.