U.S. President George Bush defended his record in office and wished his successor well as he went before reporters for a farewell news conference.
美国总统布什在白宫举行告别记者会时为他执政期间的政绩进行辩护，并祝福他的继任者。
At times nostalgic, at times defensive, Mr. Bush talked about the issues he faced as president and the challenges that lie before Barack Obama saying, "I genuinely mean what I say - I wish him all the very best."
布什总统谈到他作为总统曾面临的一些问题，以及奥巴马面前要应对的各种挑战，话语之间有时流露出怀旧之感，有时又为自己辩护。布什说：“我祝愿他一切顺利，这是发自我内心的祝愿”。
He said preventing another terrorist attack will be the biggest challenge facing the new chief executive.
布什说，新总统面临的最大挑战就是防止再次发生恐怖袭击。
"The most urgent threat that he will have to deal with, and other presidents after him will have to deal with, is an attack on our homeland," Mr. Bush said.
“他和继任他的各届总统要应付的最紧迫的威胁就是对我们国土发动的攻击。”
The president was asked about his 2002 State of the Union address, when he first referred to an Axis of Evil - Iran, North Korea and Iraq.
He said Iran remains dangerous and North Korea is still a problem. But he pointed to progress in Iraq, noting that his decision to send in extra U.S. forces helped turn the tide of the war. He acknowledged the young Iraqi democracy is still fragile.
他说，伊朗仍然很危险，北韩仍然是个问题。但是他强调伊拉克已经取得进展。他指出，他向伊拉克增兵的决定帮助伊拉克扭转了战争的局势。不过，他承认伊拉克新建立的民主仍然很脆弱。
"The question is, in the long run, will this democracy survive and that is going to be the challenge for future presidents," Mr. Bush said.
“问题是，从长远来看，这个民主是否能够生存，这将是未来总统要面对的挑战。”
Mr. Bush also defended his policy in the Middle East. He was asked if he thought the Israeli assault on Gaza might end by Inauguration Day. He did not answer directly, but he said Hamas militants must stop rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel.
布什还为他的中东政策进行辩护。有记者问，他是否认为以色列对加沙地带的攻击能在1月20日就职典礼日之前结束。布什并没有直接回答，不过他说，哈马斯激进分子必须停止从加沙向以色列发射火箭。
"There will not be a sustainable cease-fire if they continue firing rockets," Mr. Bush said. "I happen to believe the choice is Hamas's to make."
“如果哈马斯继续发射火箭，就不可能有持久的停火。我认为哈马斯必须在这个问题上做出选择。”
Mr. Bush said he is not bothered by criticism of his policies, and he strongly denied the notion that America's credibility around the world has been damaged under his watch.
布什说，他并不因为人们批评他的政策而感到困扰，他还坚决否认美国在世界上的信誉在他的执政期间受到损害。
He also disputed accusations that he has been a poor steward of the nation's economy.
他还反驳有关他管理国家经济不当的指责。
"Look, I inherited a recession and I am ending on a recession," said Mr. Bush. "In the meantime, there were 52 months of uninterrupted job growth."
“我上任时继承的是经济衰退，卸任时也处于经济衰退。但是在此期间，美国曾经有52个月就业持续不断增加。”
President Bush said he has been discussing the economic situation with the president-elect. He said he is looking forward to Inauguration Day, noting he will have a front row seat for history as the nation's first African-American president takes the oath of office.
布什总统说，他同当选总统奥巴马讨论过目前的经济局势。他说，他期待着就职典礼那一天。他指出，在美国第一位非洲裔总统宣誓就职之际，他将坐在第一排目睹这历史时刻。
"He will get sworn in, and they will have the lunch and all the deal up there on Capitol Hill, and then he will come back and go through the inauguration (the inaugural parade), and then he will walk into the Oval Office, and there will be a moment when the responsibilities of the president land squarely on his shoulders," said Mr. Bush.
“他将宣誓就职，他们将在国会山共进午宴，经历所有的程序。然后他将回来参加就职典礼，然后他将走进椭圆形办公室，在那个时刻，总统的重任将完全落在他的肩上。”
In keeping with tradition, President Bush will leave the Capitol immediately after the swearing-in ceremony. He will board a helicopter to the side of the inaugural platform and begin his journey back home to the state of Texas.
根据传统，布什总统将在宣誓仪式结束后立即离开国会山。他将登上停在就职典礼台一侧的直升机，返回他的家乡德克萨斯州。 |