Weekly Address: President Obama Says the Mission in Libya is Succeeding
每周电视讲话:奥巴马总统称利比亚的军事行动进展顺利
WASHINGTON – In his weekly address, President Obama told the American people that the military mission in Libya is succeeding even as responsibility is transferred to our NATO allies and partners. Qaddafi’s air defenses have been taken out, his forces are no longer advancing across the country, and in places like Benghazi, his forces have been pushed back. Every American can be proud of the lives we have saved and of the service of our men and women in uniform who once again have stood up for our interests and our ideals.
华盛顿:在本周的讲话中,奥巴马总统告诉全美人民，利比亚的军事行动进展顺利，主要职责也已移交北约盟国和伙伴。卡扎菲的防空力量已经被摧毁，他的军队再也不能在全国大范围调动，在班加西这样的城市，他的军队也被击退。每个美国人都可以为我们拯救的生命而感到自豪，为我们的男女战士们而自豪，因为他们再一次的代表了我们的利益和理想。
Last week, when I ordered our armed forces to help protect the Libyan people from the brutality of Moammar Qaddafi, I pledged to keep the American people fully informed. Since then, I’ve spoken about the limited scope and specific purpose of this mission. Today, I can report that thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we’ve made important progress.
上周，当我命令部队帮助保护利比亚人民免受穆阿迈尔·卡扎菲残忍暴行的时候，我就承诺让全美人民知悉所有详情。从那时候开始，我一直在谈论这项行动的限定范围和具体目的。今天，我可以向大家报告，因为有了我们英勇的男女战士们，我们已经取得了重大的进展。
As Commander in Chief, I face no greater decision than sending our military men and women into harm’s way. And the United States should not—and cannot—intervene every time there’s a crisis somewhere in the world.
作为最高统帅，我面对着无比巨大的决策压力将我们的军队送入险境。而且，美国不应该，也不能每次在世界上某个地方出现危机的时候就介入。
But I firmly believe that when innocent people are being brutalized; when someone like Qaddafi threatens a bloodbath that could destabilize an entire region; and when the international community is prepared to come together to save many thousands of lives—then it’s in our national interest to act. And it’s our responsibility. This is one of those times.
但我坚信，当无辜平民被肆意蹂躏的时候；当像卡扎菲这样的人用大屠杀开始威胁整个地区的稳定的时候；当国际社会准备好团结一致拯救成千上万的生命的时候，那么也就是我们为了国家利益采取行动的时候了。这是我们的责任。而这次只是其中之一。
Our military mission in Libya is clear and focused. Along with our allies and partners, we’re enforcing the mandate of the United Nations Security Council. We’re protecting the Libyan people from Qaddafi’s forces. And we’ve put in place a no fly zone and other measures to prevent further atrocities.
我们在利比亚的军事行动是清晰而明确的。我们正在与盟国和伙伴国一起执行联合国安理会的决议。我们正在保护利比亚平民免受卡扎菲军队的迫害。而且我们也设定了禁飞区，并采取其他措施防止出现更多暴行。
We’re succeeding in our mission. We’ve taken out Libya’s air defenses. Qaddafi’s forces are no longer advancing across Libya. In places like Benghazi, a city of some 700,000 that Qaddafi threatened to show “no mercy,” his forces have been pushed back. So make no mistake, because we acted quickly, a humanitarian catastrophe has been avoided and the lives of countless civilians—innocent men, women and children—have been saved.
我们的行动进展顺利。我们已经摧毁了利比亚的防空力量。卡扎菲的军队再也也不能在利比亚大范围调动。在班加西这样的城市，70万民众曾面临卡扎菲所说将“毫不怜悯”的威胁，现在他的部队在这里被击退。因此，毫无疑问，因为我们反应迅速，避免了一场人道主义灾难的发生，无数平民——无辜的男人、女人和孩子们免遭荼毒。
As I pledged at the outset, the role of American forces has been limited. We are not putting any ground forces into Libya. Our military has provided unique capabilities at the beginning, but this is now a broad, international effort. Our allies and partners are enforcing the no fly zone over Libya and the arms embargo at sea. Key Arab partners like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have committed aircraft. And as agreed this week, responsibility for this operation is being transferred from the United States to our NATO allies and partners.
从一开始我承诺时就说，美国军队的角色是有限度的。我们不会派遣地面部队到利比亚。我们的军事行动在一开始就展示了独一无二的能力，但现在这是一项广泛的国际社会共同的行动。我们的盟国和伙伴国对利比亚实施了禁飞区和海上武器禁运。关键的阿拉伯盟友，像卡塔尔和阿联酋也承诺提供飞机支援。而且随着本周的协调结束，行动指挥权已开始移交到北约盟国和伙伴手中。
This is how the international community should work—more nations, not just the United States, bearing the responsibility and cost of upholding peace and security.
这也是国际社会应该采取的合作方式——更多国家参与，而不仅仅是美国来承担责任，承受维护和平安定的成本。
This military effort is part of our larger strategy to support the Libyan people and hold the Qaddafi regime accountable. Together with the international community, we’re delivering urgent humanitarian assistance. We’re offering support to the Libyan opposition. We’ve frozen tens of billions of dollars of Qaddafi’s assets that can help meet the needs and aspirations of the Libyan people. And every day, the pressure on Qaddafi and his regime is increasing.
该项军事努力是我们更大战略的一部分，我们要支持利比亚人民，让卡扎菲政府为此负责。与国际社会一道，我们将提供紧急人道主义援助。我们也将为利比亚反对派提供支援。我们已经冻结了卡扎菲数百亿美元的资产，以此来帮助满足利比亚人民的期待和愿望。而且，每一天，对卡扎菲和他的政府所施加的压力都会不断增加。
Our message is clear and unwavering. Qaddafi’s attacks against civilians must stop. His forces must pull back. Humanitarian assistance must be allowed to reach those in need. Those responsible for violence must be held accountable. Moammar Qaddafi has lost the confidence of his people and the legitimacy to rule, and the aspirations of the Libyan people must be realized.
我们的意思是明确的，也绝不动摇。卡扎菲对平民的袭击必须停止。他的军队必须撤退。人道主义援助必须能够到达所需要的地方。所有的暴力行径必须要被追究责任。穆阿迈尔·卡扎菲已经失去了人民的信任和统治的合法性，利比亚人民的愿望必须要实现。
In recent days, we’ve heard the voices of Libyans expressing their gratitude for this mission. “You saved our lives,” said one Libyan. Said another, “Today, there is hope.”
在最近几天，我们听到了利比亚人民对军事行动的赞扬之情。一个利比亚人说：“你们救了我们。”还有人说：“今天，我们迎来了希望。”
Every American can be proud of the lives we’ve saved in Libya and of the service of our men and women in uniform who once again have stood up for our interests and our ideals. And people in Libya and around the world are seeing that the United States of America stands with those who hope for a future where they can determine their own destiny.
每个美国人都可以为我们所拯救的利比亚人民而自豪，为我们的男女战士而自豪，他们再一次代表了我们的利益和理想。利比亚人民和世界各地的人民都将看到，美利坚合众国会与那些希望自己决定未来命运的人民站在一起。 |