奥巴马每周电视讲话 伊拉克的作战任务告一段落

Weekly Address: President Obama: As the Combat Mission in Iraq Ends, We Must Pay Tribute to Those Who Have Served
 每周电视讲话：奥巴马总统：随着伊拉克作战任务的结束，我们必须向为国效劳的人们致敬！
 
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama pledged to uphold the sacred trust the nation has with its troops and veterans as the combat mission in Iraq comes to an end.  The administration is building a 21st century VA, making it easier for veterans with PTSD to receive the benefits they need, funding and implementing² a Post-9/11 GI Bill, and devoting new resources to job training and placement to help those veterans looking for work in a tough economy.  The President also encouraged Americans who want to send our troops and veterans a message of thanks to visit www.whitehouse.gov and upload a message.
 华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统承诺随着伊拉克的作战任务结束，他将维护国家对参战部队和退伍军人的神圣职责。政府将将建立21世纪的退伍军人管理局，使患PTSD（创后压力心理障碍症）的退伍军人能更方便的获得他们应得的福利，拨款并施行后911士兵福利法案，在岗位培训和安置上投入新的资源来帮助退伍军人在经济困难时期寻找工作。总统同时也鼓励希望向我们的部队和退伍战士传达谢意的美国人民可以登录www.whitehouse.gov来发表留言。
 
On Tuesday, after more than seven years, the United States of America will end its combat mission in Iraq and take an important step forward in responsibly ending the Iraq war.
 周二，七年多后，美利坚合众国结束了她在伊拉克的作战任务，在负责任地结束伊拉克战争上迈出了重要的一步。
 
As a candidate for this office, I pledged I would end this war.  As President, that is what I am doing.  We have brought home more than 90,000 troops since I took office.  We have closed or turned over to Iraq hundreds of bases.  In many parts of the country, Iraqis have already taken the lead for security.
 竞选总统之初，我就承诺将结束这场战争。现在作为总统，我正在履行诺言。自我上任以来，我们已经撤回9万多名士兵。我们已经关闭或向伊拉克移交了数百个军事基地。在这个国家的许多地方，伊拉克人已经担负起主要安保任务。
 
In the months ahead, our troops will continue to support and train Iraqi forces, partner with Iraqis in counterterrorism missions, and protect our civilian³ and military efforts.  But the bottom line is this: the war is ending.  Like any sovereign, independent nation, Iraq is free to chart its own course.  And by the end of next year, all of our troops will be home.
 在未来数月，我们的部队将继续支援和培训伊拉克部队，协同伊拉克人执行反恐任务，并保护我们的国民和军事行动。但关键是：战争正在结束。像其他拥有独立主权的国家一样，伊拉克将自由描绘她自己的蓝图。而且到明年底，我们所有的部队将撤回国内。
 
As we mark the end of America’s combat mission in Iraq, a grateful nation must pay tribute to all who have served there.  Because part of responsibly ending this war is meeting our responsibility to those who have fought it.
 随着美国在伊拉克的作战任务结束，作为一个感恩的国家，我们必须向所有参战人员致敬。因为负责任地结束这场战争的部分内容就是履行我们对于参战人员的职责。
 
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now make up America’s longest continuous combat engagement.  For the better part of a decade, our troops and their families have served tour after tour with honor and heroism⁴, risking and often giving their lives for the defense⁵ of our freedom and security.  More than one million Americans in uniform have served in Iraq – far more than any conflict since Vietnam.  And more than one million who have served in both wars have now finished their service and joined the proud ranks of America’s veterans.
 当前，伊拉克战争和阿富汗战争是美国参与的历时最长的连续作战任务。为了拥有更美好的未来，我们的官兵和他们的家庭满怀骄傲和英雄气概一次又一次踏上征程，常常冒着生命危险保卫我们的自由和安宁。有多达一百万美国军人曾在伊拉克服役——比自越南战争以来的任何冲突的参战人员都多。而且有一百多万曾参与这两场战争的军人完成了他们的使命，自豪地加入了美国退役军人的行列。
 
What this new generation of veterans must know is this: our nation’s commitment to all who wear its uniform is a sacred trust that is as old as our republic itself.  It is one that, as President, I consider a moral obligation to uphold.
 新一代的退伍军人需要知道的是：我们国家对穿着她的军装的军人的承诺是一项神圣的职责，就如同共和国一样历史悠久。这是一项，作为总统，我认为是我要维护的神圣职责。
 
At the same time, these are new wars; with new missions, new methods, and new perils⁶.  And what today’s veterans have earned – what they have every right to expect – is new care, new opportunity, and a new commitment to their service when they come home.
 同时，这是新的战争，新的任务，新的方法和新的危险。今天的退伍军人挣得的——他们绝对有权期待的——是新的照顾，新的机遇，以及在他们回家后对他们服役的新的承诺。
 
That’s why, from the earliest days of my Administration, we’ve been strengthening that sacred trust with our veterans by making our veterans policy more responsive and ready for this new century.
 这就是为什么，自我执政最开始的日子以来，我们就巩固了这项对于退伍军人的神圣职责，制定反应更迅速的退伍军人政策来为新世纪做好准备。
 
We’re building a 21st century VA, modernizing⁷ and expanding VA hospitals and health care, and adapting care to better meet the unique needs of female veterans.  We’re creating a single electronic health record that our troops and veterans can keep for life.  We’re breaking the claims backlog⁸ and reforming the process with new paperless systems.  And we are building new wounded warrior⁹ facilities through the Department of Defense.
 我们正在建立21世纪的退伍军人管理局，扩展和建立现代化的退伍军人医院以及医疗保险，调整保险以更好的满足女性退伍军人的特殊需求。我们正在创建一项单一电子健康记录来记录我们的士兵和退伍军人一生的健康档案。我们正在消除理赔积压，采用无纸化系统改革办事流程。而且我们正在通过国防部建设新的受伤士兵便利设施。
 
But for many of our troops and their families, the war doesn’t end when they come home.  Too many suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder¹⁰ – the signature injuries of today’s wars – and too few receive proper screening or care.  We’re changing that.  We’re directing significant resources to treatment, hiring more mental health professionals, and making major investments in awareness¹¹, outreach, and suicide prevention.  And we’re making it easier for a vet¹ with PTSD to get the benefits he or she needs.
 但对于大多数军人和他们的家庭来说，他们回家之后，战争仍未结束。太多人遭受着创伤性脑损伤和创后压力心里障碍症——现代战争的典型创伤——的折磨，而极少人获得了正当的检查和照料。我们正在改变这些。我们正投入大量资源在治疗上，雇请大量专业心理辅导人员，并在远程的，可感知的自杀预防上做出重大投资。而且我们也使患PTSD的退伍军人能更方便的获得他或她需要的福利待遇。
 
To make sure our troops, veterans, and their families have full access to the American Dream they’ve fought to defend, we’re working to extend them new opportunity.  Michelle and Jill Biden have forged a national commitment to support military families while a loved one is away.  We’ve guaranteed new support to caregivers who put their lives on hold for a loved one’s long recovery.  We’re funding and implementing the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which is already helping¹² some 300,000 veterans and their family members pursue their dream of a college education.
 为了保证我们的部队，退伍军人和他们的家庭可以充分实现他们曾经战斗保卫过的“美国梦”，我们正在为他们提供新的机会。米歇尔和吉尔·拜登已经构造了一份国家承诺，来供养失去亲人的军属家庭。我们还为把一生奉献给亲人康复的护理人员提供了新的保障。我们正拨款并实施后911士兵福利法案，该法案已经帮助约30万退伍军人和他们的家庭成员追求他们的大学梦。
 
And for veterans trying to find work in a very tough economy, we’ve devoted¹³ new resources to job training and placement. I’ve directed the federal government to hire more veterans, including disabled veterans, and I encourage every business in America to follow suit. This new generation of veterans has proven itself to be a new generation of leaders.  They have unmatched training and skills; they’re ready to work; and our country is stronger when we tap their extraordinary talents.
 同时，为了帮助退伍军人在经济困难时期找到工作，我们在岗位培训和安置上投入了新的资源。我已指示联邦政府雇用更多的退伍军人，包括残疾退伍军人，而且，我也鼓励每个美国企业也效仿行事。这是新一代的退伍军人，他们已证明他们是新一代的领导者。他们得到了非凡的训练拥有无与伦比的技能，他们已经准备好随时工作；而且我们只要发掘出他们的非凡才能，我们的国家将变得更加强大。
 
New care. New opportunity. A new commitment to our veterans.
 全新的照料，全新的机遇。是对我们退伍军人全新的承诺。
 
If you’d like to send our troops and veterans a message of thanks and support, just visit whitehouse.gov.  There, you’ll find an easy way to upload your own text or video.
 如果你想向我们的士兵和退伍军人发送感谢和支持的信息，只要登录whitehouse.gov。你就可以很方便的发表留言或上传视频。
 
Let them know that they have the respect and support of a grateful nation.  That when their tour ends; when they see our flag; when they touch our soil; they’ll always be home in an America that is forever here for them – just as they’ve been there for us.  That is the promise our nation makes to those who serve.  And as long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, it’s a promise we’ll keep.  Thank you.
 让他们知道他们得到了一个感恩的国度的尊重和支持。当他们结束征程，看到我们的国旗，当他们踏上故土，他们将回到永远在此为他们守候的美国之家——就像他们曾经为我们做的一样。这是我们国家对于为国效劳的人们的承诺。只要我担任统帅，我将继续恪守承诺。

谢谢大
 
 

1 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。

2 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 heroism   

n.大无畏精神，英勇

参考例句：

• He received a medal for his heroism.他由于英勇而获得一枚奖章。
• Stories of his heroism resounded through the country.他的英雄故事传遍全国。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 perils   

极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境）

参考例句：

• The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
• With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难？

7 modernizing   

使现代化，使适应现代需要( modernize的现在分词 )； 现代化，使用现代方法

参考例句：

• Modernizing a business to increase its profitability and competitiveness is a complicated affair. 使企业现代化，从而达到增加利润，增强竞争力的目的，是一件复杂的事情。
• The young engineer had a large share in modernizing the factory. 这位年轻工程师在工厂现代化的过程中尽了很大的“力”。

8 backlog   

n.积压未办之事

参考例句：

• It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.要花一个月的时间才能清理完积压的工作。
• Investment is needed to reduce the backlog of repairs.需要投资来減轻积压的维修工作。

9 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

10 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

11 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

12 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

13 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。