President Bush: Currently, a small part of Iraq is under Saddam Hussein's control - 2003-03-29

President Bush states that the U.S.-led military coalition has positioned itself less than eighty kilometers from Baghdad and is preparing to seize the city. In his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush said that Saddam Hussein currently controls a small part of Iraq. He mentioned that a fierce battle continues between the allies and what he termed the most demoralized units of the Iraqi army, but victory is certain. He also noted that the recent atrocities committed by Iraqi forces demonstrate the cruel nature of a regime on the brink of collapse. The U.S. President reiterated his promise that war criminals will be severely punished for their actions. Meanwhile, results from polls released today by The Washington Post and ABC show that three out of four Americans support the Iraq-led war. On Friday, President Bush, in remarks to former U.S. soldiers, stated that coalition forces led by the U.S. are inflicting severe damage on Iraqi forces. He added that the intense battles currently underway require greater courage and sacrifices, but the victory of coalition forces is inevitable. In this context, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld dismissed concerns regarding unexpected Iraqi resistance that had previously been anticipated, stating that coalition forces are continuously advancing. The Secretary of Defense also warned Syria to stop sending equipment to Iraq, a claim that Syria denied.