據外電報道,當地時間8月31日晚8時,美國總統奧巴馬在白宮發表講話,正式宣布美國在伊拉克的7年作戰任務結束。以下是奧巴馬講話全文:
(Video Source: qq.com)
Good evening. Tonight, I'd like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.
晚上好。今晚,我想對你們談一談我們在伊拉克作戰任務的結果,我們當前面臨的安全挑戰,以及我們重建美國經濟的必要性。
I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we are trying to build for our nation - a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity may seem beyond our reach.
我明白,對于許多美國人而言,這一歷史性時刻的來臨恰逢存有太多不確定性之時。現在,我們經歷了一場近十年的戰爭。我們經歷了漫長而痛苦的經濟衰退。在這些暴風雨中的某些時候,我們試圖為國家打造的未來——一個有著持久和平和長期繁榮的未來——似乎顯得遙不可及。
But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.
不過,這個具有里程碑意義的重要事件應該提醒所有美國人,如果我們帶著自信和承諾繼續前進,未來就會由我們塑造。它也應該向世界傳達一個信息,在這個新的世紀里,美國人打算維持并加強我們的領導地位。
From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.
七年半前,在這張辦公桌前,布什總統宣布我們在伊拉克的軍事行動開始。自那天晚上以來,情況發生了許多變化。一場解除國家武裝的戰爭已經變成了一場打擊叛亂的戰爭。恐怖主義和宗派戰爭威脅要將伊拉克撕裂。數千美國人犧牲了自己的生命,數萬美國人在戰爭中受傷。我們的對外關系面臨困擾。我們的國內團結受到了挑戰。
These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America's longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst those shifting tides. At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.
伊拉克戰爭是美國經歷過的耗時最長的戰爭之一,而這些都是我們在此期間遭遇到的風浪。然而,在這些不斷轉變的浪潮中,卻有一個始終未變的主題。無論何時,美國的士兵們都滿懷勇氣和決心在服役。作為總司令,我為他們感到自豪。就像所有美國人一樣,他們的犧牲,他們家人的犧牲,令我心生敬仰之情。
The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people; trained Iraqi Security Forces; and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians -and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people - Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.
在伊拉克服役的美國人完成了他們被賦予的每一個任務。他們瓦解了一個對國民實施恐怖統治的政權。與同樣作出巨大犧牲的伊拉克和盟國伙伴一起,我們的軍人打下了一個又一個地區,幫助伊拉克人抓住了創造美好未來的機會。他們轉變戰術以保護伊拉克人民,訓練伊拉克安全部隊,抓捕恐怖組織領導人。因為我們的軍人和人民、因為伊拉克人民堅韌不拔的精神,伊拉克得到了擁抱新命運的機會,盡管前面的路仍有諸多挑戰。
So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.
所以,今晚,我宣布,美國在伊拉克的作戰使命已經結束。伊拉克自由行動結束了,現在伊拉克人民將承擔其國家安全的主要責任。
This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq's Security Forces and support its government and people. That is what we have done. We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.
這是我身為總統候選人時對美國人民做出的承諾。去年2月,我宣布了一項計劃,把我們的戰斗部隊撤出伊拉克,同時加倍努力強化伊拉克安全部隊,支持伊拉克政府和人民。這就是我們所做的事情。我們已經從伊拉克撤離了近10萬美國士兵。我們已關閉或向伊拉克移交了數百個基地,我們已經把數百萬套裝備撤離了伊拉克。