美国总统小布什在退伍军人年会上的发言
(中英文交叉版)
Posted on 12月8日, 2006 by cotglti
(版权归翻译者所有，未经同意不得转载)
【译者序】
当美国总统，全球最强大国家的最高领导人，将自己能否主导这个国家乃至全球命运的决定权交给全体美国人民时，他也就学会了如何尊敬这里的每一个普通人，也就学会了通过尊敬其国民来表达自己尊敬全人类的善良而又崇高的情感；当他将自己的个人命运与美国的命运紧密相连时，他也就知道了如何将自己国家的命运与整个人类的历史和命运紧密相连，也就知道了如何运用美国的智慧和力量推动人类历史向正确的方向迈进。我们的时代是幸运的，因为这个超级强国的领导人的产生不是由少数几个躲在阴暗屋子里自我决定的极端分子所掌控。否则，整个世界将陷入巨大的黑暗和恐怖之中，人类的历史将因此而不堪设想。
盐湖城，犹他州，2006年8月31日
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, AUGUST 31, 2006
发言人：美国总统乔治·W·布什
SPEAKER: GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
（全场共计50次鼓掌欢呼，三次笑声）
布什：谢谢在座的各位。（掌声欢呼）非常感谢各位。请大家就座。谢谢这里的热烈欢迎。非常荣幸地在这个美国最美丽的城市加入你们（的行列）。我感激你们的盛情。站在这些我们国家最杰出的爱国者、退伍军人和他们的家属面前，我感到骄傲。（掌声欢呼）我高兴地称大家为我的退伍军人伙伴。（掌声欢呼）尽管（没有足够的信心），我还是猜想也许今天我是唯一来自德克萨斯州休斯顿第77邮政区的老兵。这是我刚刚想到的。（笑声）如果你也来自第77邮政区，请在盐湖代表你自己好了。（笑声）尽管劳拉在某个夜里曾提醒过我有几个伙伴——至少在另一个声名卓著的组织——60岁以上者俱乐部——里我确实加入到几个伙伴中。（笑声）在将近90年里，退伍军人协会一直骄傲地体现着上帝和（这个）国家。（掌声欢呼）从大都市到小城镇，美国退伍军人协会的声誉带给人们脑海的是我们国家最好的庄重尊严、慷慨大方和个性特质。
BUSH: Thank you all. (APPLAUSE) Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It’s great to join you here in one of America’s most beautiful cities. I appreciate your hospitality. I am proud to stand before some of our country’s finest patriots, our veterans and their families. (APPLAUSE) And I’m pleased to call you my fellow legionnaires. (APPLAUSE) I suspect I may be the only one here, though, from Post 77, Houston, Texas. That’s what I thought. (LAUGHTER) If you are from Post 77, behave yourself here in Salt Lake. (LAUGHTER) Laura did remind me the other night, though, that a few of my fellow members — at least I have joined a few of my fellow members in another illustrious organization, the over-60 club. (LAUGHTER) For almost 90 years, legionnaires have stood proudly for God and country. (APPLAUSE) From big cities to small towns, the American Legion name brings to mind the best of our nation’s decency, generosity and character. (APPLAUSE)
布什：我感谢你们终生的服侍，感谢你们对这个国家的积极贡献，并且我很骄傲地加入你们之中。首先，我要感谢国家总司令官汤姆·伯克的好心引荐和强力领导。（鼓掌欢呼）我总是衷心地欢迎司令官来到总统办公室讨论共同关心的事务。汤姆，在领导这个组织时你做了非常好的工作。我也要感谢你的夫人伊莱恩，特别地，我要向你的儿子，美军上尉伯克，表示尊敬。他今天也在这里。（鼓掌欢呼）我感激有机会与美国退伍军人辅协会的总裁卡洛尔·范·科克一道出现在这里。我还要感谢今天和大家在一起的辅协会的所有成员。（鼓掌欢呼）我感到自豪，因为本州州长乔恩·亨特斯曼及其夫人玛丽·凯伊也在我们之中。州长，谢谢你的光临。我也为美国军方的两位强有力支持者、联邦参议员奥林·哈切和鲍勃·本利特的与会而感到自豪。（鼓掌欢呼）来自犹他州的联邦国会众议院代表团成员、议员罗布（罗伯特的简称）·比肖普和克里斯（克里斯托夫的简称）·坎农来到了这里。谢谢你们两位的到来。你们出现在这里令我自豪。（鼓掌欢呼）感谢犹他州州参议员及参议院领导人约翰·瓦伦丁。我感激本次大会的发言人格雷格（格里高利的简称）·柯蒂斯。我要感谢所有今天在座的州和地方官员。特别要感谢今天在座的所有金星奖家庭。愿上帝祝福你们！愿上帝保佑你们！（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: I thank you for a lifetime of service. I thank you for the positive contributions you make to our nation. And I’m proud to join you today. First, I want to thank Tom Bock, the national commander, for his kind introduction and his strong leadership. (APPLAUSE) I always am pleased to welcome the commander to the Oval Office to discuss common issues. And you’ve done a fine job leading this organization, Tom. I also want to thank your wife, Elaine, and I particularly want to pay respect to your son, Captain Bock of the United States Army, who’s joined us today. (APPLAUSE) I appreciate being here with Carol Van Kirk, the national president of the American Legion Auxiliary. And I want to thank all the auxiliary members who are with us here today, as well. (APPLAUSE) I’m proud that the governor of this great state, Jon Huntsman, and his wife, Mary Kaye, have joined us. Governor, thank you for your time. I’m also proud to be joined by two United States senators who are strong supporters of the United States military: Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Bob Bennett. (APPLAUSE) Members of the congressional delegation from the state of Utah have joined us: Congressman Rob Bishop and Congressman Chris Cannon. Thank you both for coming. Proud you’re here. (APPLAUSE) Thank the state senator — John Valentine is the president of the Utah state senate. I appreciate Speaker Greg Curtis. I want to thank all the state and local officials who have joined us here today. Most particularly, I want to thank you all for giving me the chance to come and speak to you. Particularly want to thank all the Gold Star families who’ve joined us today. May God bless you. May God bless you. (APPLAUSE)
布什：作为老兵，当美国最需要的时候你们全体一致奋勇向前。从北非到诺曼底，从（日本的）Iwo Jima（即硫磺岛） 到菲律宾的Ing Shan，从菲律宾的Kasan到科威特，你们的勇气和服务使一代代人得以生活在自由之中。然而，我们亏欠你们的远甚过那些对你们的感谢。在联邦政府的支持方面我们亏欠你们。因此，在我的第一个四年总统任期内，我们为退伍军人增加的财政预算超过了前任在8年中的所为。（鼓掌欢呼）随后，我们增加得更多。在我今年的预算中为退伍军人提供的资金达800亿美元。这表明自我承担政府责任以来，（这项预算）增加了75%，达到美国有史以来对退伍军人支持的最高水平。（鼓掌欢呼）对许许多多的退伍军人来说，健康是他们的所有优先考虑之最，当然也是我的政府的所有优先之最。一旦国会众院通过我的2007年财政预算，我们将把退伍军人健康保健的预算从2001年的水平上增加69%。我们业已拓宽了保健治疗范围，可覆盖100万新增的退伍军人，包括30多万从阿富汗和伊拉克返回的男女军人。（鼓掌欢呼）我们正在一些地方兴建新的退伍军人福利设施，以使在当地退伍的军人能够就近享受到最好的健康保健服务。我由衷地感激退伍军人协会在关照和同情其同伴命运时所表现出的强烈历史使命。
BUSH: As veterans, all of you stepped forward when America needed you most. From North Africa to Normandy, Iwo Jima to Ing Shan (ph), from Kasan (ph) to Kuwait, your courage and service have made it possible for generations to live in liberty. And we owe you more than just thanks. We owe you the support of the federal government. And so, in my first four years as president, we increased funding for veterans more than the previous administration did in eight years. (APPLAUSE) Since then, we’ve increased it even more. My budget for this year provides more than $80 billion for veterans. That is a 75 percent increase since I took office. It’s the highest level of support for veterans in American history. (APPLAUSE) For many veterans, health is a top priority, and it’s a top priority of my administration. When Congress passes my 2007 budget, we will have increased the V.A. health-care budget by 69 percent since 2001. We’ve extended treatment to a million additional veterans, including more than 300,000 men and women returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. (APPLAUSE) We’re building new V.A. facilities in places where veterans are retiring so that more veterans can get top-quality health care closer to their homes. I appreciate the legion’s strong history of care and compassion for your fellow veterans.
布什：本周早些时候，我前往密西西比州和路易斯安那州参加卡特里纳飓风的第一个周年纪念。（当地的）老兵们遭受了本次飓风的沉重打击，然而，遍及全美各地的美国退伍军人协会迅速提供了极其重要的救济和安慰。在遭受灾难的一个小时内，你们表现出了我们国家的善心，并昭示出这样一个社会：美国总是能够仰望退伍军人协会。（鼓掌欢呼）我也由衷地感激军人们长期支持在首都的明智的立法行动。今年早些时候，参议院投票表决了一个关于禁止亵渎国旗的宪法修正案，我们迎来了一个简单的（众院）投票表决以便使之最终获得通过。（我的）行政机构期待着继续与美国退伍军人协会一道共同努力，以确保我们可以在美国宪法中获得这一重要的保护性（条款）。（鼓掌欢呼）你们的组织也支持了另一个立案，即尊敬美国的战死英雄法案。这个议案将确保战死者家庭在军队葬礼期间免遭抗议。（鼓掌欢呼）我的行政机构还将继续努力搜寻那些命运未定的男女士兵：我们的战俘以及失踪者。我们将不会忘记这些勇敢的美国人，将不遗余力地查明每一位士兵、船员、飞行员、海岸警卫队员和水兵。我们将永远敬仰他们的勇气。这种勇气就是我们的新一代身着军服的美国人在21世纪的第一次战争中为捍卫我们的自由而表现出的巨大勇气。
BUSH: Earlier this week, I traveled to Mississippi and Louisiana to mark the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Veterans were hit hard by this storm, and American Legion posts all across the United States responded with vital relief. In an hour of suffering, you showed the good heart of our nation, and you showed the world that America can always count on Legionnaires. (APPLAUSE) I also appreciate the Legion’s long history of supporting wise legislation in the nation’s capital. Earlier this year, the Senate voted on a constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. We came within a single vote of passing it. The administration looks forward to continuing working with the American Legion to make sure we get this important protection in the Constitution of the United States of America. (APPLAUSE) Your organization supported another good piece of legislation called the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act. This bill ensures that families of fallen service members will not have to endure protests during military funerals. (APPLAUSE) My administration will also continue to work to locate the men and women in uniform whose fate is still undetermined: our prisoners of war and personnel missing in action. We will not forget these brave Americans. We must not rest until we’ve accounted for every soldier, sailor, airman, Coast Guardsman and Marine. And we will always honor their courage. (APPLAUSE) This — our new generation of Americans in uniform is showing great courage in defending our freedom in the first war of the 21st century.
布什：我确信，退伍军人协会，尤其是你们中那些有亲友身着军服的家庭，正密切关注着这一战争进程。从前线反馈回来的战场情境令人震撼，有时甚至引起人们的不安。当你们看见无辜市民被自杀炸弹撕裂肉体，或者一些家庭成员被埋在其成为废墟的家园下的时候，整个世界看上去似乎可以被漫无目的的暴力所淹没。那里的事实确实是暴力，但那些挑起暴力的人有一个明确的目的。当恐怖分子在世贸中心谋杀，或者汽车炸弹者攻击巴格达，或者劫机犯图谋在大西洋上空引爆飞机，或者恐怖分子的民兵武装向以色列城镇发射火箭，他们的所有行动都在追求着同一个目标：颠覆自由的进步，强加给整个世界一个暴政和恐怖的黑暗景象。
BUSH: I know that Legionnaires are following this war closely, especially those of you with family and friends who wear our uniform. The images that come back from the front lines are striking and, sometimes, unsettling. When you see innocent civilians ripped apart by suicide bombs or families buried inside their homes, the world can seem engulfed in purposeless violence. The truth is there is violence, but those who cause it have a clear purpose. When terrorists murder at the World Trade Center or car bombers strike in Baghdad or hijackers plot to blow up planes over the Atlantic or terrorist militias shoot rockets at Israeli towns, they are all pursuing the same objective: to turn back the advance of freedom and impose a dark vision of tyranny and terror across the world.
布什：自由的敌人来自世界的不同角落，他们从不同的来源获得各自的灵感。一些人是逊尼派传统的极端势力的追随者，他们发誓效忠类似阿尔·凯达的恐怖组织；另一些人则是什叶派传统的极端势力的追随者，他们联合成为一些类似真主党的团体，并从叙利亚和伊朗等国获得资助。当然，还有一些人则是成长于家庭的恐怖分子，这是一群平静地生长在自由社会中却梦想着摧毁它的狂热分子。尽管它们之间有差异，这些组织形成了一个单一运动的轮廓：一个遍布世界的激进势力网络，他们采用恐怖手段杀害那些挡在他们通向极权主义意识形态道路上的人。这一运动连接着跨越宗派主义分裂运动和同情地方保护的势力，其共同特征是毫不妥协地宣判自由社会是对其被扭曲的伊斯兰教观点的威胁。我们今天的战斗超越了一场（普通的）军事冲突，它是一场决定21世纪意识形态的抗争！（掌声欢呼）冲突的一方是那些信仰自由和适度价值观的人，（他们秉持）人人有权发表观点、敬拜（上帝）并自由生活（的原则）；另一方则是那些受极权主义和极端主义价值观驱使的人，（他们坚持）少数人有权自我任命以强加他们的狂热观点于（除他们自己以外的）其余整个世界。作为老兵，你们早已见过了此类敌人。他们是法西斯主义、纳粹党人、共产主义以及20世纪其它极权主义的继承人。然而历史表明了结果将如何。这场战争将是困难的、持久的并将以战胜恐怖主义和极权主义而结束。胜利将归因于自由！（掌声欢呼）
BUSH: The enemies of liberty come from different parts of the world, and they take inspiration from different sources. Some are radicalized followers of the Sunni tradition who swear allegiance to terrorist organizations like Al Qaida. Others are radicalized followers of the Shia tradition who join groups like Hezbollah and take guidance from state sponsors like Syria and Iran. Still others are home-grown terrorists, fanatics who live quietly in free societies they dream to destroy. Despite their differences, these groups form the outlines of a single movement, a worldwide network of radicals that use terror to kill those who stand in the way of their totalitarian ideology. And the unifying feature of this movement, the link that spans sectarian divisions and local grievances, is the rigid conviction that free societies are a threat to their twisted view of Islam. The war we fight today is more than a military conflict. It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. (APPLAUSE) On one side are those who believe in the values of freedom and moderation, the right of all people to speak and worship and live in liberty. And on the other side are those driven by their values of tyranny and extremism, the right of a self-appointed few to impose their fanatical views on all the rest. As veterans, you have seen this kind of enemy before. They are successors to fascists, to Nazis, to communists and other totalitarians of the 20th century. And history shows what the outcome will be. This war will be difficult, this war will be long, and this war will end in the defeat of the terrorists and totalitarians and a victory for the cause of freedom and liberty. (APPLAUSE)
布什：我们正在迈向这场战争临到我们家园的第5个周年。随着那天早上惊世骇俗的恐怖情景变得越来越遥远，一个趋势似乎是相信那样的威胁正在减退而战争即将结束。这种感觉是自然而然的且令人宽慰——但是，错了！正如我们最近所见，敌人依然图谋攻击我们，我们也依然处在我们不期望的战争中！但这是一场我们不得不发动且必须赢得的战争。（鼓掌欢呼）在接下来的日子里，我将发表一系列的演说以阐明这场反恐战争的敌人的性质、我们所洞悉的它们的目的和野心、我们所经历的成功和挫折以及我们取得这场长期战争胜利的策略。今天，我将讨论这场战争的一个关键方面：在包括伊拉克战场在内的中东地区自由与恐怖的较量，这是我们反恐战争最重要的前线。
BUSH: We’re now approaching the fifth anniversary of the day this war reached our shores. As the horror of that morning grows more distant, there is a tendency to believe that the threat is receding and this war is coming to a close. That feeling is natural and comforting — and wrong. As we recently saw, the enemy still wants to attack us. We’re in a war we didn’t ask for. But it’s a war we must wage and a war we will win. (APPLAUSE) In the coming days, I will deliver a series of speeches describing the nature of our enemy in the war on terror, the insights we’ve gained about their aims and ambitions, the successes and setbacks we’ve experienced, and our strategies to prevail in this long war. Today, I’ll discuss a critical aspect of this war: the struggle between freedom and terror in the Middle East, including the battle in Iraq, which is the central front in our fight against terrorism.
布什：要理解中东地区这场较量的演变，我们就需要考虑到本地区的近现代史。半个世纪以来，美国在中东的基本目标是确定不移的。在那个时代这个目标可被理解，因为我们处于与苏联的冷战之中，而支持中东政府拒绝共产主义是重要（的策略）。然而，在过去的几十年中，一股危险的潜流在中东一直增长着。许多地区深陷停滞和绝望的泥潭，年轻一代的成长伴随着改善生活的渺茫希望，许多人跌进激进的极端主义，恐怖主义运动更是加强了这种情形，多年来逐渐沸腾的怨恨终于爆发从而将整个世界带入到暴力（的漩涡）。极端分子在伊朗挟持了美国人质，真主党的恐怖分子在（美国）驻贝鲁特和沙特阿拉伯柯巴城堡的海军陆战队兵营谋杀了我们的士兵。恐怖分子在世界贸易中心引爆了卡车炸弹，基地组织炸毁了美国在东非的两个大使馆并炸伤了美国海军的科尔号军舰，最后，当19个劫机犯杀死了将近3000多男人、女人和孩子时，911那个恐怖的噩梦到来了。
BUSH: To understand the struggle unfolding in the Middle East, we need to look at the recent history of the region. For a half-century, America’s primary goal in the Middle East was stability. This was understandable at the time. We were fighting the Soviet Union in the Cold War, and it was important to support Middle Eastern governments that rejected communism. Yet, over the decades, an undercurrent of danger was rising in the Middle East. Much of the region was mired in stagnation and despair. A generation of young people grew up with little hope to improve their lives, and many fell under the sway of radical extremism. The terrorist movement multiplied in strength, and resentment that had simmered for years boiled over into violence across the world. Extremists in Iran seized American hostages. Hezbollah terrorists murdered American troops at the Marine barracks in Beirut and Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Terrorists set off a truck bomb at the World Trade Center. Al Qaida blew up two U.S. embassies in East Africa and bombed the USS Cole. And then came the nightmare of September the 11th, 2001, when 19 hijackers killed nearly 3,000 men, women and children.
布什：在一个单调平凡的早晨，一种感觉变得清晰起来了，那就是我们在中东见到的宁静祥和仅仅只是一个海市蜃楼。我们也意识到追求稳定以促进和平的岁月已经悄然离我们远去。取而代之的是在中东自由的匮乏使这一地区成为恐怖主义运动的温床（或者翻译为：取而代之的是自由匮乏的中东地区成为了恐怖主义运动的温床）。911之前，中东的情形是危险的和不可接受的，为此我们一直在寻求一种新的策略。首先，我们在动用国家权力的每一个要素应对基地组织、那些从基地组织获得灵感的人以及其它采取类似策略的恐怖分子。我们已经在法律事务上完成了针对恐怖分子的简单处理（即在法律系统内完成了针对恐怖分子的立法程序，译者注）。我们将不断进攻（他们），在世界范围内与恐怖分子作战以免遭在自家门前不得不面对他们（的命运）。（鼓掌欢呼）其次，我们已经让所有国家都清醒地意识到，如果你们庇护恐怖分子，你们将与恐怖分子同罪，你们就是美国的敌人，你们将被（我们）慎重掂量。（鼓掌欢呼）第三，我们已经推动了一个大胆的新议程，通过支持中东及其以外地区自由的力量以战胜敌人的意识形态。这个自由的议程基于我们深刻的思想和切身的利益。（我们）美国人相信，每一块大陆上持每一种宗教信念的每一个人都有权决定他（或她）自己的命运。我们也相信，自由是上帝赐给（每一个人）的礼物，它超越了任何世俗权力可以攫取的部分（或翻译为：任何世俗权力不可攫取）。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: In the space of a single morning, it became clear that the calm we saw in the Middle East was only a mirage. We realized that years of pursuing stability to promote peace have left us with neither. Instead, the lack of freedom in the Middle East made the region an incubator for terrorist movements. The status in the Middle East before September the 11th was dangerous and unacceptable, so we’re pursuing a new strategy. First, we are using every element of national power to confront Al Qaida, those who take inspiration from them and other terrorists who use similar tactics. We have ended the days of treating terrorism simply as a law enforcement matter. We will stay on the offense. We will fight the terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. (APPLAUSE) Second, we have made it clear to all nations, if you harbor terrorists, you are just as guilty as the terrorists, you’re an enemy of the United States, and you will be held to account. (APPLAUSE) And third, we’ve launched a bold new agenda to defeat the ideology of the enemy by supporting the forces of freedom in the Middle East and beyond. The freedom agenda is based upon our deepest ideals and our vital interests. Americans believe that every person of every religion on every continent has the right to determine his or her own destiny. We believe that freedom is a gift from an almighty God, beyond any power on Earth to take away. (APPLAUSE)
布什：由历史和逻辑，我们也知道促进民主是营建（全球）安全最可靠的途径。民主政治不会相互攻击或威胁和平，对选民负责的政府会把（工作）焦点放在修建道路和学校而不是大规模杀伤性武器之上，对未来充满前途的年轻人不会去寻求极端主义的意义，能够加入和平政党的公民不会加入一个恐怖组织，可以不知疲倦地自由表达抗议的持不同政见者不会在上下班高峰期间炸飞他们自己，承诺其人民自由的国家也不会支持恐怖主义；（相反）他们将加入到我们的行列以战胜恐怖分子。（鼓掌欢呼）因此，作为对抗压迫和激进主义的另类选择，美国已经承诺其在世界范围内促进自由和民主的影响力。我们将站在泛中东地区的民主领导人和改革者一边，我们将支持穆斯林世界中宽容和适度的声音，我们将与每一种文化背景下希望自己的孩子成长在充满关爱与和平的世界的母亲和父亲们站在一起。通过支持重要地区的自由事业，我们将使得我们的子子孙孙更加安全。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: We also know, by history and by logic, that promoting democracy is the surest way to build security. Democracies don’t attack each other or threaten the peace. Governments accountable to the voters focus on building roads and schools, not weapons of mass destruction. Young people who have a way in their future are less likely to search for meaning in extremism. Citizens who can join a peaceful political party are less likely to join a terrorist organization. Dissidents with the freedom to protest around the clock are less likely to blow themselves up during rush hour. And nations that commit to freedom for their people will not support terrorists; they will join us in defeating them. (APPLAUSE) So America has committed its influence in the world to advancing freedom and democracy as the great alternatives to oppression and radicalism. We will take the side of democratic leaders and reformers across the Middle East. We will support the voices of tolerance and moderation in the Muslim world. We stand with the mothers and fathers in every culture who want to see their children grow up in a caring and peaceful world. And by supporting the cause of freedom in a vital region, we’ll make our children and our grandchildren more secure. (APPLAUSE)
布什：5年过去了，我们已经开始见到行动的结果，也看到了敌人对自由的进步作出怎样的反应。在阿富汗，我们看到了一个庇护发动911攻击的恐怖分子的邪恶专制政权。几周内，美国军队就抵达了阿富汗境内。与阿富汗盟友一道，我们抓获或击毙了成百上千的基地组织和塔利班武装分子，关闭了他们的训练营地，并帮助阿富汗人民推翻了塔利班的统治，建立了民主政权。我们以这些行动来回应他们。（鼓掌欢呼）我们的敌人看到了阿富汗的转变，他们以试图逆转所有进步来作出反应。基地组织和塔利班失去了觊觎（ji 4 yu 4）以久的阿富汗基地。他们知道一旦民主政治获得成功，他们将不再可能收回他们失去的一切。为此，他们不断攻击阿富汗的自由政体，试图重返权力舞台。而最终，他们只有失败。（鼓掌欢呼）来自包括所有北约成员国在内的40个国家的武装力量正与美军一道支持阿富汗新政府。塔利班结束的那一天，就是阿富汗的未来属于阿富汗人民的那一天，就是阿富汗的未来属于自由的那一天。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: Over the past five years, we’ve begun to see the results of our actions. And we have seen how our enemies respond to the advance of liberty. In Afghanistan, we saw a vicious tyranny that harbored the terrorists who planned the September 11th attacks. Within weeks, American forces were within Afghanistan. Along with our Afghan allies, we captured or killed hundreds of Al Qaida and Taliban fighters, we closed down their training camps, and we helped the people of Afghanistan replace the Taliban with a democratic government that answers to them. (APPLAUSE) Our enemies saw the transformation in Afghanistan, and they responded by trying to roll back all the progress. Al Qaida and the Taliban lost a coveted base in Afghanistan, and they know they will never reclaim it when democracy succeeds. And so they’re trying to return to power by attacking Afghanistan’s free institutions. And they will fail. (APPLAUSE) Forces from 40 nations, including every member of NATO, are now serving alongside American troops to support the new Afghan government. The days of the Taliban are over. The future of Afghanistan belongs to the people of Afghanistan, and the future of Afghanistan belongs to freedom. (APPLAUSE)
布什：在黎巴嫩，我们看到了一个独立自主的国家被叙利亚独裁政权占领，也看到了勇敢的黎巴嫩人民走上街头宣示他们的独立。因此，我们努力工作以强制执行必须结束叙利亚占领的联合国相关决议。叙利亚最终撤出了他们的军队，黎巴嫩人民则选出了一个民主政府以便开始管理他们自己的国家。我们的敌人看到了黎巴嫩的变革，开始动摇新生民主政权的稳定。真主党无缘无故地对以色列发动了袭击，目的就是要破坏贝鲁特的民主政府。然而，他们厚颜无耻的行为促使全世界团结起来支持黎巴嫩的民主。国务卿赖斯与安理会一道工作促成了安理会1701号决议，这份决议将加强黎巴嫩的武装力量，使其有能力控制南黎巴嫩，并阻止真主党国中之国的行为。我由衷地感激法国和意大利为部署这支国际安全力量提供的军力承诺。外国武装力量和恐怖分子在自由和民主的黎巴嫩没有容身之地。正是由于大家齐心协力，我们正使得这一目标在整个世界面前变得明朗起来。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: In Lebanon, we saw a sovereign nation occupied by the Syrian dictatorship. We also saw the courageous people of Lebanon take to the streets to demand their independence. So we worked to enforce a United Nations resolution that required Syria to end its occupation of the country. The Syrians withdrew their armed forces, and the Lebanese people elected a democratic government that began to reclaim their country. Our enemy saw the transformation in Lebanon and set out to destabilize the young democracy. Hezbollah launched an unprovoked attack on Israel that undermined the democrat government in Beirut. Yet, their brazen action caused the world to unite in support for Lebanon’s democracy. Secretary Rice worked with the Security Council to pass Resolution 1701, which will strengthen Lebanese forces as they take control of southern Lebanon and stop Hezbollah from acting as a state within a state. I appreciate the troops pledged by France and Italy and other allies for this important international deployment. Together, we’re going to make it clear to the world that foreign forces and terrorists have no place in a free and democratic Lebanon. (APPLAUSE)
布什：当前，整个世界面对着一个来自伊朗极端政权的巨大威胁。与过去任何时候相比，今年夏天发生的黎巴嫩危机使这一观点变得更加明晰。伊朗的政权武装、资助并指导真主党，这个除基地组织外杀害美国人最多的恐怖网络。伊朗政权通过资助恐怖分子和反叛武装、武装非法民兵以及为制造爆炸装置提供材料等方式干涉伊拉克。伊朗政权拒绝承认其千百万人民的基本人权，并公开蔑视其国际义务追求核武器。我们了解由伊朗资助的恐怖分子带来的死亡和痛苦，我们也能想象到一旦伊朗被承认为核国家情况将变得多么的糟糕。许多国家正在共同努力解决这个问题。联合国也通过了一项决议要求伊朗延缓其铀浓缩活动。对于伊朗领导人来说，今天是回答这个由国际社会做出的合理建议的最后期限。假如伊朗领导人接受这个提议并放弃他们的核武器野心，他们就能使自己的国家走上较好的进程。然而，迄今为止，伊朗政权依然以进一步的蔑视和拖延（战术）来回答（国际社会）。现在是伊朗作出选择的时候了。我们已经做出了我们的选择。我们将继续紧密地与盟友一道共同努力找到外交解决（的办法），但这样做对伊朗的挑衅必须有结果，而我们也必须阻止伊朗发展其核武器。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: This summer’s crisis in Lebanon has made it clearer than ever that the world now faces a great threat from the radical regime in Iran. The Iranian regime arms, funds and advises Hezbollah, which has killed more Americans than any terrorist network except Al Qaida. The Iranian regime interferes in Iraq by sponsoring terrorists and insurgents, empowering unlawful militias and supplying components for improvised explosive devices. The Iranian regime denies basic human rights to millions of its people. And the Iranian regime is pursuing nuclear weapons in open defiance of its international obligations. We know the death and suffering that Iran’s sponsorship of terrorists has brought, and we can imagine how much worse it would be if Iran were allowed to acquire nuclear nations. Many nations are working together to solve this problem. The United Nations passed a resolution demanding that Iran suspend its nuclear enrichment activities. Today is the deadline for Iran’s leaders to reply to the reasonable proposal the international community has made. If Iran’s leaders accept this offer and abandon their nuclear weapons ambitions, they can set their country on a better course. Yet, so far, the Iranian regime has responded with further defiance and delay. It is time for Iran to make a choice. We’ve made our choice. We will continue to work closely with our allies to find a diplomatic solution, but there must be consequences for Iran’s defiance, and we must not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. (APPLAUSE)
布什：在伊拉克，我们看到的是一个庇护恐怖分子的独裁者（将自己的权力基础和目标）锁定在军事层面、资助巴勒斯坦自杀炸弹者的家属、入侵近邻、寻求并使用大规模毁灭性武器。联合国通过了10多个决议要求萨达姆·侯赛因完全地公开地放弃其大规模毁灭性武器。我们给了他最后的机会来遵守决议。当他拒绝后，我们便迫使他满足整个世界的公正要求。而现在，萨达姆·侯赛因被囚禁在监狱里并接受审判。不久他将获得他在长时间里多次拒绝的公正。（鼓掌欢呼）随着这位暴君走下权坛，美国、伊拉克、中东以及整个世界变得更加美好。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: In Iraq, we saw a dictator who harbored terrorists, fired at military planes, paid the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, invaded a neighbor, and pursued and used weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations passed more than a dozen resolutions demanding that Saddam Hussein fully and openly abandon his weapons of mass destruction. We gave him a last chance to comply. And when he refused, we enforced the just demands of the world. And now Saddam Hussein is in prison and on trial. Soon he will have the justice he denied to so many for so long. (APPLAUSE) And with this tyrant gone from power, the United States, Iraq, the Middle East and the world are better off. (APPLAUSE)
布什：自萨达姆倒台三年来，伊拉克人民恢复了他们拥有的国家主权，在自由的选举中投下了选票，起草并批准了一部民主宪法，在中东的心脏地带选择了一个拥护宪法的民主政体。在同一时期，伊拉克也见证了恐怖分子和反叛武装运动的高涨，这些运动采取野蛮残忍和不分青红皂白的暴力以图挫伤伊拉克人民对自由与和平的愿望。基地恐怖分子、萨达姆前政权的余孽、非法民兵武装以及非法武装团伙都在行动以破坏伊拉克新生的民主。这些集团有着各自不同的长期野心，但都有一个共同的短期目标：他们要将美国及其盟友逐出伊拉克和中东以便他们能阻挡自由的进步并把他们的黑暗前景强加于中东人民身上。（鼓掌欢呼）我们在伊拉克的敌人采用了冷酷无情的战术以达成他们的目标。他们用伏击和路边炸弹瞄准美国和盟国士兵，劫持人质并在镜头前斩首平民，炸毁伊拉克征兵站并刺杀政府领导人。我们已经适应了这类战术。感谢伊拉克人和美国军队的技能和专业水准，令这些敌人中的许许多多找到了他们的归宿。在通向未来的路途上的每一站，我们的敌人都没能削弱伊拉克人民的勇气，也没能阻挡住伊拉克民主政治的兴起。他们将削弱不了美国人民的意志。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: In three years since Saddam’s fall, the Iraqi people have reclaimed the sovereignty of their country. They cast their ballots in free elections. They drafted and approved a democratic constitution and selected a constitutional democracy at the heart of the Middle East. Over the same period, Iraq has seen a rise of terrorist and insurgent movements that use brutal and indiscriminate violence to frustrate the desire of the Iraqi people for freedom and peace. Al Qaida terrorists, former elements of Saddam’s regime, illegal militias, and unlawful armed groups are all working to undermine Iraq’s new democracy. These groups have different long-term ambitions, but the same immediate goals: They want to drive America and our coalition out of Iraq and the Middle East so they can stop the advance of freedom and impose their dark vision on the people of the Middle East. (APPLAUSE) Our enemies in Iraq have employed ruthless tactics to achieve those goals. They have targeted Americans and coalition troops with ambushes and roadside bombs. They have taken hostage and beheaded civilians on camera. They have blown up Iraqi army posts and assassinated government leaders. We’ve adapted to the tactics. Thanks to the skill and professionalism of Iraqi and American forces, many of these enemies have met their end. At every stop along the way, our enemies have failed to break the courage of the Iraqi people. They have failed to stop the rise of Iraqi democracy. And they will fail in breaking the will of the American people. (APPLAUSE)
布什：现在，这些敌人开始了一种新的尝试。他们热衷于一场血腥的宗派暴力活动，他们希望这将令伊拉克陷入一场内战。这一宗派暴力活动的爆发受到了恐怖分子扎卡维和叫嚣一场针对什叶派全面战争的伊拉克基地组织代理人的鼓舞。一段时期内，什叶派社区忍受住了寻机复仇的刺激，然而，今年2月位于萨马拉的什叶派金顶清真寺被炸毁后，极端团伙被动员了起来，在巴格达以及其它地方的街头出现了宗派敢死队。我们的大使报告说，上月在巴格达有数千伊拉克人被杀害，他们中的大多数都是宗派暴力的牺牲品。这种残酷和血腥的屠杀导致一些人怀疑伊拉克是否已经陷入内战。我们在伊拉克的地面战场指挥官和外交官相信事情还没有到那一步。他们报告说只有极少数的伊拉克人卷入宗派暴力活动，占压倒性的大多数人都渴望在一个统一的国家里和平与正常地生活。来自不同背景的伊拉克领导人们也铭记那次将他们推上权坛的选举，在那次选举中，1千2百万伊拉克选民拒绝了汽车炸弹和杀手并宣布：“我们渴望自由！”（鼓掌欢呼）伊拉克政府正在不知疲倦地工作以保持国家的统一，结束分裂而不是扩大裂痕。伊拉克人民走过了漫长的道路，他们将不会让他们的国家跌入分裂或堕入暴政。
BUSH: And now these enemies have launched a new effort. They have embarked on a bloody campaign of sectarian violence which they hope will plunge Iraq into a civil war. The outbreak of sectarian violence was encouraged by the terrorist Zarqawi, Al Qaida’s man in Iraq who called for an all-out war on Iraqi Shia. The Shia community resisted impulse to seek revenge for a while, but after this February bombing of the Shia Golden Dome mosque in Samarra, extremist groups mobilized and sectarian death squads formed on the streets of Baghdad and other areas. Our ambassador reports that thousands of Iraqis were murdered in Baghdad last month, and large numbers of them were victims of sectarian violence. This cruelty and carnage has led some to question whether Iraq has descended into civil war. Our commanders and our diplomats on the ground in Iraq believe that it’s not the case. They report that only a small number of Iraqis are engaged in sectarian violence, while the overwhelming majority wants peace and a normal life in a unified country. Iraqi leaders from all backgrounds remember the elections that brought them to power, in which 12 million Iraqis defied the car bombers and killers to proclaim, "We want to be free." (APPLAUSE) Iraq’s government is working tirelessly to hold the nation together and to heal Iraq’s divisions, not to exploit them. The Iraqi people have come a long way. They are not going to let their country fall apart or relapse into tyranny.
布什：正如伊拉克总理马利基在美国国会上的演说：“伊拉克人已经尝到了自由的滋味，我们将坚定不移地捍卫它。”（鼓掌欢呼）美国有一个明确的战略来帮助伊拉克人民保护他们新的自由并建设一个能管理它自己、维持它自己并捍卫它自己的民主政治体系。在政治方面，我们正与马利基总理一道紧密合作以加强伊拉克的联合政府并拓展（其功能），以便为伊拉克人民提供更好的服务。对于伊拉克新政府，这是一个关键时期。它的领导者们理解面对的挑战。他们相信现在是在有关伊拉克（前途和命运）最有争议的事务上达成妥协的时候了。与每一位我所遇到的伊拉克领导人在一起时我都很清醒，美国是一个有耐心的国家，只要这个新政府在促进一个统一、民主与和平的伊拉克方面继续做出艰难而必要的决策，伊拉克就可以指望我们的合作。在列出议程处理这些事务方面，马利基总理已经显示出了勇气。他拥有一个可依靠的盟友，那就是美利坚合众国，来帮助他促成这个议程。（鼓掌欢呼）在安全事务方面，我们正在精心调整战术以应对来自地面的威胁。我已授权我们在伊拉克的指挥官们所有他们需要的灵活性以因时因地地作出战术调整以便保持攻势并打败自由的敌人。我们已经部署了特别行动力量以猎杀或逮捕在伊拉克活动的恐怖分子。扎卡维（的死）让他们知道他们能做什么。
BUSH: As Prime Minister Maliki told the United States Congress, "Iraqis have tasted freedom, and we will defend it absolutely." (APPLAUSE) America has a clear strategy to help the Iraqi people protect their new freedom and build a democracy that can govern itself and sustain itself and defend itself. On the political side, we’re working closely with Prime Minister Maliki to strengthen Iraq’s unity government and develop — and to deliver better services to the Iraqi people. It’s a crucial moment for the new Iraqi government. Its leaders understand the challenge. They believe that now is the time to hammer out compromises on Iraq’s most contentious issues. I’ve been clear with each Iraqi leader I meet, America’s a patient nation, and Iraq count on our partnership, as long as the new government continues to make the hard decisions necessary to advance a unified, democratic and peaceful Iraq. Prime Minister Maliki has shown courage in laying out an agenda to do just that. And he can count on an ally, the United States of America, to help him promote this agenda. (APPLAUSE) On the security side, we’re refining our tactics to meet the threats on the ground. I’ve given our commanders in Iraq all the flexibility they need to make adjustments necessary to stay on the offense and defeat the enemies of freedom. We’ve deployed special operation forces to kill or capture terrorists operating in Iraq. Zarqawi found out what they can do.
布什：我们继续训练伊拉克人及其警察力量以保卫他们自己的国家。我们已经将南部省份的安全责任移交给了伊拉克警察力量。伊拉克10个军事分区中的5个目前正主导着他们区域内的军事行动，其中伊拉克的安全力量起着决定性作用。他们正变得越来越有能力。与他们在一起，我们将战胜自由伊拉克的敌人。（鼓掌欢呼）最近，我们发起了一场新的主要战役以结束巴格达的安全危机。伊拉克人和美国军队肩并肩地指导着在城内最暴烈区域的行动以打垮基地组织，逮捕敌方作战人员，镇压IED（即Improvised Explosive Devices，简易爆炸装置，译者注）制造者，并瓦解敢死队。美军正在帮助伊拉克国家警察力量经受再训练以便更有效地在巴格达执行法律，并以提供重建帮助支持着伊拉克政府。巴格达的安全计划仍然与最初的一样（意指安全形势没有恶化，译者注）。我们不能期望即刻取得成功，但初战的结果是令人鼓舞的。根据一份军情报告，在其多样化的邻居中，一位逊尼派穆斯林男人对可能是什叶派的巡逻士兵说：“他们的形象有了变化。现在你感到他们在那里保护你。”在随后的几周几月里，这场战役将扩展到整个巴格达直到伊拉克民主政府能在其首都有效控制的区域。这项工作是困难而危险的，但伊拉克政府及其武装力量在宣示其国家主权方面是决定性的，而在帮助他们取得成功方面，美国是决定性的。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: We continue to train Iraqi and police forces to defend their own nation. We have handed over security responsibility for a southern province to Iraqi forces. Five of Iraq’s 10 army divisions are now taking the lead in their areas of operation. The Iraqi security forces are determined. They are becoming more capable. And together, we will defeat the enemies of a free Iraq. (APPLAUSE) Recently we also launched a major new campaign to end the security crisis in Baghdad. Side by side, Iraqi and American forces are conducting operations in the city’s most violent areas to disrupt Al Qaida, to capture enemy fighters, crack down on IED makers, and break up the death squads. These forces are helping Iraq’s national police force undergo retraining to better enforce law in Baghdad. These forces are supporting the Iraqi government as it provides reconstruction assistance. The Baghdad security plan is still in its early stages. We cannot expect immediate success, yet the initial results are encouraging. According to one military report, a Sunni man in a diverse Baghdad neighborhood said this about the Shia soldiers on patrol: "Their image has changed. Now you feel they’re there to protect you." Over the coming weeks and months, the operation will expand throughout Baghdad until Iraq’s democratic government is in full control of its capital. The work is difficult and dangerous, but the Iraqi government and their forces are determined to reclaim their country, and the United States is determined to help them succeed. (APPLAUSE)
布什：在这里的家里，我们要为有关伊拉克（的事务）作出抉择。一些政治家们观察着我们在伊拉克的所作所为，并见证了自这场反恐战争以来的一个转折。这个转折的到来就像关于奥萨马·本·拉登的消息一样，他曾经声称第三次世界大战正在席卷整个伊拉克；它也像关于基地组织二号头目阿尔·凯达·扎卡维的消息一样，他号召在伊拉克的抵抗运动，称这里是所谓的“最伟大的战场”；它还像关于来自叙利亚、沙特阿拉伯、埃及、苏丹、利比亚和也门以及其它国家的恐怖分子的消息一样，他们来到伊拉克向正在这里兴起的民主政治宣战。令人难以置信的是，这些恐怖分子经过长途跋涉，冒险穿越边界，忍受严酷的战争或在巴格达的街头引爆他们自己就是为了他们所谓的转折。一些美国人不支持我推翻萨达姆·侯赛因的决策。许多人对暴力（发生）的程度感到失望。然而，我们应当一致同意为伊拉克而战就是21世纪人类意识形态之战的核心。我们将不会允许恐怖分子决定这个世纪的命运，因此，我们将在伊拉克战胜他们。（鼓掌欢呼）尽管如此，在我们国家还是有一些人坚持认为无论伊拉克的地面情形如何，最好的选择是撤出（我们的军队）。这其中许多人的用心是真诚的和爱国的，但是他们应该能够（理解我的观点）——而不是犯更大的错误。如果美国在伊拉克能够保卫它自己之前撤出，其绝对可以预测的后果将是绝对灾难性的。这样处理伊拉克（问题）表明我们比最差的敌人（处理得）还要糟糕：萨达姆的前党羽、来自世界各地与伊朗和基地恐怖分子有关联的武装团伙等一些人将突然间拥有了一个价值远甚过塔利班统治下的阿富汗的活动基地。他们将在中东的心脏地带拥有一个新的庇护所用来招募和训练恐怖分子，并利用丰富的石油财富资助他们的野心。
BUSH: Here at home, we have a choice to make about Iraq. Some politicians look at our efforts in Iraq and see a diversion from the war on terror. That would come as news to Osama bin Laden, who proclaimed that the third world war is raging in Iraq. It would come as news to the number-two man of Al Qaida, Zawahiri, who has called the struggle in Iraq, quote, "the place for the greatest battle." It would come as news to the terrorists from Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Yemen and other countries who have come to Iraq to fight the rise of democracy. It’s hard to believe that these terrorists have made long journeys across dangerous borders, endure heavy fighting or blow themselves up in the streets of Baghdad for a so-called diversion. Some Americans didn’t support my decision to remove Saddam Hussein. Many are frustrated with the level of violence. But we should all agree that the battle for Iraq is now central to the ideological struggle of the 21st century. We will not allow the terrorists to dictate the future of this century, so we will defeat them in Iraq. (APPLAUSE) Still, there’s some in our country that insist that the best option in Iraq is to pull out, regardless of the situation on the ground. Many of these folks are sincere and they’re patriotic. But they could be — they could not be more wrong. If America were to pull out before Iraq can defend itself, the consequences would be absolutely predictable and absolutely disastrous. We would be handing Iraq over to our worst enemies: Saddam’s former henchmen, armed groups with ties to Iran and Al Qaida terrorists from all over the world who would suddenly have a base of operations far more valuable than Afghanistan under the Taliban. They would have a new sanctuary to recruit and train terrorists at the heart of the Middle East, which use oil riches to fund their ambitions.
布什：我们完全了解这些野心的出处。如果我们放弃在巴格达街头的这场战斗，我们将在我们自己的街头面对恐怖分子。我们能够决定中止在伊拉克或全球任何其它地方对恐怖分子的战斗，但他们不会决定中止对我们的战斗（或者翻译为：我们不能决定他们停止对我们的战斗）。我们在中东地区最优秀的指挥官约翰·阿比扎伊德将军最近一针见血地指出：“如果我们离开，他们将跟踵而至。”他是对的。文明世界的安全有赖于反恐战争的胜利，有赖于在伊拉克取得胜利。因此，美利坚合众国将不会离开直至取得胜利。（鼓掌欢呼）在伊拉克取胜是艰难的，需要付出更多的牺牲。那里作战之激烈堪比奥马哈海滩或瓜达康纳尔岛之战，而胜利是如此的重要，也堪比那些早期的战斗。在伊拉克的胜利将导致一个对美国及其反恐盟友友好的民主政体；在伊拉克的胜利将决定性地战胜我们在战场上的众多敌人；在伊拉克的胜利将荣耀那些为此献出生命的勇敢的美国人；在伊拉克的胜利也应当是21世纪意识形态斗争的强有力的胜利。从大马士革到德黑兰，人们将仰望一个民主的伊拉克作为他们的精神动力，因为自由能够成功地扎根于中东，从而作为一个见证：站在自由的一边就是站在胜利的一边。对于中东，这是一个极其关键的时刻。全世界正注视着这里。在伊拉克及其外部世界，自由的力量将势不可挡。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: And we know exactly where those ambitions lead. If we give up the fight in the streets of Baghdad, we will face the terrorists in the streets of our own cities. We can decide to stop fighting the terrorists in Iraq and other parts of the world, but they will not decide to stop fighting us. General John Abizaid, our top commander in the Middle East region, recently put it this way: "If we leave, they will follow us." And he is right. The security of the civilized world depends on victory in the war on terror, and that depends on victory in Iraq. So the United States of America will not leave until victory is achieved. (APPLAUSE) Victory in Iraq will be difficult, and it will require more sacrifice. The fighting there can be as fierce as it was at Omaha Beach or Guadalcanal. And victory is as important as it was in those earlier battles. Victory in Iraq will result in a democracy that is a friend of America and an ally in the war on terror. Victory in Iraq will be a crushing defeat to our enemies who have staked so much on the battle there. Victory in Iraq will honor the sacrifice of the brave Americans who’ve given their lives. And victory in Iraq would be a powerful triumph in the ideological struggle of the 21st century. From Damascus to Tehran, people will look to a democratic Iraq as inspiration that freedom can succeed in the Middle East and as evidence that the side of freedom is the winning side. This is a pivotal moment for the Middle East. The world is watching. And Iraq and beyond, the forces of freedom will prevail. (APPLAUSE)
布什：对于所有的争论，美国的中东政策流传至今归结为一个直截了当的抉择：我们可以允许中东继续它自己的道路——这条道路将把它引导回911之前——从现在开始的一代人，我们的孩子们，将面对一个由恐怖分子主导的区域性国家集团以及由核武器武装的极端主义独裁团伙。或者，通过联合全世界来对抗仇恨意识并赋予中东人民充满希望的未来，我们能够阻止这一切的发生。而后者正是美国已经做出的抉择。（鼓掌欢呼）（终有一天），我们将看到整个中东地区的人民拥有尊敬他们的尊严的政府，发挥出他们的创造力并点算他们的选票；终有一天，我们将看到当中东地区的领导人们拒绝恐怖并保护自由；终有一天，我们将看到中东地区的国家联合起来走上和平的道路。尽管通向那一天的路途艰难曲折，但我们对结果充满信心，因为我们知道那是导向自由的历史方向。
BUSH: For all the debate, American policy in the Middle East comes down to a straightforward choice: We can allow the Middle East to continue on its course — on the course it was headed before September the 11th — and a generation from now, our children will face a region dominated by terrorist states and radical dictators armed with nuclear weapons. Or we can stop that from happening by rallying the world to confront the ideology of hate and give the people of the Middle East a future of hope. And that is the choice America has made. (APPLAUSE) We see a day when people across the Middle East have governments that honor their dignity, unleash their creativity and count their votes. We see a day when leaders across the Middle East reject terror and protect freedom. We see a day when the nations of the Middle East are allies in the cause of peace. The path to that day will be uphill and uneven, but we can be confident of the outcome because we know that the direction of history leads toward freedom.
布什：在我们共和国的早期年代里，托马斯·杰弗逊就说过，我们不能期望在舒适的环境下从专制走向自由。这在每一个时代和每一个地方都是正确的。除了在座的各位退伍老兵，没有人能理解这一点。尽管有着历史的差距，我们依然能够回首20世纪的历次战争，并容易理解一条迈向胜利的直接通道。在这一点上你们理解得更好。你们发动并参与了艰苦的战斗，经受了创伤，失去了朋友和兄弟。在黑暗的时代和命运未定的时刻你们出现在那里，而你们知道为了自由值得为之牺牲，也知道怎样才能取得胜利。尽管这是一场全新的战争，但有一点没有改变：胜利有赖于美国人民的勇气、耐心和决心，最重要的是，它有赖于那些愿意为自由而战的爱国者。（鼓掌欢呼）我们的国家受上帝的恩赐拥有无数的爱国男女。我们的军队使得这个国家强大、安全而又自豪。（鼓掌欢呼）我们将永远铭记所有在这场战争中献出自己生命的人。我誓言将给予军中男女士兵所需的一切以完成其使命。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: In the early years of our republic, Thomas Jefferson said that we cannot expect to move from despotism to liberty in a feather bed. That has been true in every time and place. No one understands that like your veterans understand that. With the distance of history, it can be easy to look back at the wars of the 20th century and see a straight path to victory. You know better than that. You waged the hard battles. You suffered the wounds. You lost friends and brothers. You were there for dark times and the moments of uncertainty. And you know that freedom is always worth the sacrifice. You also know what it takes to win. For all that is new about this war, one thing has not change: Victory still depends on the courage and the patience and the resolve of the American people. Above all, it depends on patriots who are willing to fight for freedom. (APPLAUSE) Our nation is blessed to have these men and women in abundance. Our military forces make this nation strong, they make this nation safe, and they make this nation proud. (APPLAUSE) We thank them and their families for their sacrifice. We will remember all those who have given their lives in this struggle. And I vow that we will give our men and women in uniform all the resources they need to accomplish their missions. (APPLAUSE)
布什：让我们纪念一位勇敢的美国人，海军陆战队下士亚当·加尔维茨，他来自这里的盐湖城。昨天，亚当的母亲和父亲安葬了他们的儿子。我们很荣幸因为他们今天出现在这里。（鼓掌欢呼）大约一个月前，在伊拉克的安巴尔省，亚当在一次自杀炸弹爆炸中受了伤。当他苏醒后，发现自己被活埋着，于是从废墟中爬了出来，随后他穿过枪林弹雨找出一把铁锹去挖出自己的同伴。他从受伤中恢复后便即刻志愿返回了前线。大约11天前，一颗路边炸弹袭击了他的巡逻车并夺去了他的生命。这里，亚当的父母诉说了他们的儿子为之献身的理由：“尽管关于这场战争的正义性有许多争论，亚当相信这个国家 ……，即使到了最后牺牲的时刻，亚当对自己国家的信念也从未动摇过。这个信念就是我们的希望和我们的祈求，它令人们分享着针对我们的军队和所有美国人的同样的信念和奉献。”（鼓掌欢呼）我们的国家将永远铭记与亚当·加尔维茨一样的美国人的这种忘我和献身。我们将以完成他们未竟的美好而崇高的使命来荣耀他们的生命。（鼓掌欢呼）
BUSH: One brave American we remember is Marine Corporal Adam Galvez, from here in Salt Lake City. Yesterday, Adam’s mom and dad laid their son to rest. We’re honored by their presence with us today. (APPLAUSE) About a month ago, Adam was wounded by a suicide bomb in Iraq’s Anbar province. When he regained consciousness, he found he was buried alive, so he dug himself out of the ruble. And then he ran through gun fire to get a shovel to dig out his fellow Marines. As soon as he recovered from his injuries, Adam volunteered to go back to the front lines. And 11 days ago he was killed when a roadside bomb hit his convoy. Here’s what Adam’s mom and dad said about the cause for which their son gave his life: "Though many are debating the justification of this war, Adam believed in this country — Adam’s belief in this country did not waver, even to the point of the ultimate sacrifice. It is our hope and our prayer that people share the same conviction and dedication to our troops and fellow Americans." (APPLAUSE) Our nation will always remember the selflessness and sacrifice of Americans like Adam Galvez. We will honor their lives by completing the good and noble work they have started. (APPLAUSE)
翻译：陈立功，2006年12月8日
于Rockville, Maryland, USA
