President Bush has delivered his final State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people. He urged the American public to support his Iraq policies and called on lawmakers to take action to boost the U.S. economy.
布什总统星期一晚上向美国国会和美国人民发表了他在任期间的最后一次国情咨文演说。布什总统敦促美国公众支持他的伊拉克政策,并呼吁国会采取措施,刺激美国经济。
For the seventh and final time, George W. Bush walked to the podium of the U.S. House of Representatives to deliver the annual State of the Union Address.
这是布什总统第七次、也是他在任期间最后一次登上国会众议院的讲台发表国情咨文演说。国会议员站在作为走道两边欢迎他。
Members of Congress lined the aisles to welcome him, as television cameras captured images sent around the globe. For one evening, the attention focused on this year's presidential election was put on pause, as Mr. Bush stood in the spotlight.
电视摄影机拍摄到的图像传遍全世界。今年以来,人们的注意力都集中在总统选战上。但是星期一晚上,布什总统得到了众人的瞩目。
He did not reflect on the past. But he did talk at length about the issues that will shape his legacy - starting with the war in Iraq and his decision to send in an additional 30,000 U.S. troops.
布什总统在演说中没有回顾过去。他在演说中以大量的篇幅阐述了那些将影响后人对他评价的问题。这些问题包括伊拉克战争以及他派遣3万名援兵到伊拉克的问题。
"Some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt," he said. "Al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated."
布什总统说:“某些人或许会否认增兵伊拉克没有奏效。但是,那里的恐怖分子对此却没有疑问。基地组织在伊拉克四处奔逃,这一敌人将被击败。”
About half the speech dealt with foreign policy, with a heavy focus on the Middle East. President Bush talked about his hopes for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. And he issued a challenge to the government of Iran.
布什总统将演说一半的篇幅用来谈论外交政策问题,其中的着重点是中东问题。布什总统阐述了他对以色列和巴勒斯坦当局达成和平协议的期望。他也对伊朗政府发出了挑战。
"Come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror abroad," he said. "But above all, know this: American will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf."
“伊朗应当清楚地交待其核设施的目的以及过去的相关行动,停止国内镇压,停止支持在外国的恐怖行动。总而言之,伊朗应当知道,美国将对那些威胁我们军人的人做出正面回击,我们会支持我们的盟友,将保卫我们在波斯湾地区的重要利益。”
Mr. Bush also spoke of his determination to protect the American economy. He acknowledged many Americans worry the slowdown in economic growth could evolve into a full-blown recession, and he sought to calm their fears.
布什总统还谈论了他保护美国经济的决心。他承认很多美国人担忧经济增长放缓会变成全面的经济衰退。他试图让美国人放下心来。
"In the long run, Americans can be confident about our economic growth," he said. "But in the short run, we can all see that growth is slowing."
“从长远看,美国人可以对美国的经济增长有心信。但是,在短期内,我们可能都会看到经济增长放慢。”
The president called on Congress to pass the economic stimulus package the administration worked out with Democratic and Republican leaders in the House. And he urged lawmakers to re-authorize a program that enables the government to secretly monitor communications between Americans and terror suspects abroad without a prior court warrant.
布什总统呼吁国会通过他的行政当局和众议院民主党和共和党领袖联合提出的刺激经济的系列计划。他敦促议员重新通过有关的法案,授权行政当局没有法庭准许的情况下可以秘密截收美国人跟在外国的恐怖分子嫌疑人之间的通讯。
On these and other matters, Mr. Bush said everyone should put politics aside - a tough call in the midst of a hard-fought presidential campaign.
在这些问题和其他问题上,布什总统说,所有的人都应当把党派之争的政治放在一边。这对目前总统选战正酣的美国来说是一个不容易达到的目标。
"In this election year, let us show our fellow Americans that we recognize our responsibilities and are determined to meet them," he said. "And let us show them that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and compete for results at the same time."
布什总统说:“在今年这个选举年,让我们向所有的美国人展示我们承认我们的责任,并决心履行我们的责任。让我们向美国人展示,共和党人、民主党人能够竞争选票,并同时竞争获得(治理国家的)成果。”
Two of the Democrats running for their party's presidential nomination - Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - were in the chamber for the president's speech.
参议员希拉里.克林顿以及巴拉克.奥巴马这两位民主党总统候选人提名竞争者在布什总统发表演说的时候在座。
The official Democratic response to the address was delivered by Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius.
堪萨斯州州长西贝利厄斯代表民主党人对布什总统的国情咨文演做出了正式的回应。
"Tonight's address begins the final year of this presidency, with new leaders on the horizon and uncertainty throughout our land," she said. "Conditions we face, at home and abroad, are results of choices made and challenges unmet."
“今天晚上的演说标志著现任总统的在任最后一年的开始。新的领导人即将出现,不安笼罩著美国。我们在国内和国际上面临的局面是(不当的)选择和未回应的挑战的结果。”
Sebelius said these challenges can be conquered if Americans of all political persuasions come together. She said the American people are not afraid to face difficult choices, but have no more patience for divisive politics.
西贝利厄斯说,假如持有各种政治见解的美国人能够同心协力,这些挑战是可以克服的。她说,美国人民并不惧怕做出困难的选择,但美国人民厌倦制造分裂的政治把戏。 |