VOA双语新闻 US Senators Visit Iraq（在线收听）

A U.S. Congressional delegation is in Iraq to meet with the country's interim government leaders and U.S. military commanders. Amid continuing violence, the senators say Iraq still needs U.S. and coalition support, and vowed to see the job through.

一个美国国会代表团在伊拉克会见了伊拉克临时政府领导人和美国驻伊拉克部队的指挥官。代表团的美国参议员表示，由于伊拉克的暴力活动持续不断，伊拉克仍然需要美国和盟国的支持。他们表示一定要让在伊拉克的工作全面完成。

The five-member delegation's first day in Iraq was marked by a series of attacks and bombings, which occurred as Shiite Muslims celebrated Ashura - the holiest day of the Shiite religious calendar.

这个由5名成员组成的美国国会代表团在伊拉克访问的第一天里，伊拉克发生了一系列袭击和爆炸事件。这些爆炸发生在什叶派穆斯林纪念什叶宗教历法中最神圣的节日"阿酥拉"时发生。

Despite the deadly violence, Senator Hillary Clinton, a Democrat from New York, said she was cautiously optimistic about Iraq's future.

不过，尽管出现了这些暴力事件，来自纽约州的民主党籍参议员希拉里·克林顿说，她对伊拉克的前途感到谨慎的乐观。

"Cautious because there are so many challenges ahead," she said. "Cautious because there are neighbors of Iraq that are not necessarily enthusiastic about the success of the Iraqi people in creating and sustaining a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy. But optimistic, because the results of the election are a strong rebuke to those who didn't believe the Iraqi people would take this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their own future."

她说：“我表示谨慎是因为前边的挑战非常多。我表示谨慎是因为一些伊拉克的邻国对于伊拉克人民成功地创造和维持多个民族、多种宗教的民主国家并不一定热衷。但是我也感到乐观，因为伊拉克大选的结果有力地驳斥了那些认为伊拉克人民不会利用这个机会显示对未来负责的那些人。”

The delegation spent the day in meetings with Iraq's interim prime minister, and other government officials. They also met with U.S. Lieutenant General David Petraeus, who is heading the effort to create an independent Iraqi security force.

代表团在访问的第一天会晤了伊拉克临时政府总理和其他政府官员。他们还会晤了负责建立独立的伊拉克安全部队的美国的彼得雷乌斯中将。

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, said U.S. troops would remain in Iraq until the job is done.

来自南卡罗莱纳州的共和党籍参议员格拉汉姆说，美国部队将留在伊拉克，直到完成任务为止。

"Not one minute longer, not one minute less," he said. "And what is the job? The ability of this country to have the capacity to maintain its freedom. That just doesn't mean numbers [of people] with guns, it means institutions that work."

他说：“一分钟都不会多，一分钟都不会少。是什么任务呢？就是这个国家有能力维持自己的自由。这并不等于组建了多少军队，而是说要建立起行之有效的体系。”

Due to the security situation, the delegation did not leave the heavily guarded "Green Zone," home to Iraqi government institutions and the U.S. and British Embassies.

出于安全上的考虑，美国国会代表团并没有离开戒备森严的巴格达“绿区”。伊拉克政府部门和美国、英国的大使馆都在这个区域里。

Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine, said, while Baghdad was clearly more fortified than it was when she last visited in the summer of 2003, she believed the recent elections were an important step.

来自缅因州的共和党籍参议员苏珊·考林斯说，尽管现在的巴格达比她2003年夏天访问的时候更加戒备森严，但是她相信最近举行的选举是重要的一步。

"Although it's disappointing to see that the violence that has ensued since my last visit has resulted in an Iraq where it is more difficult to move around, there's no doubt in my mind that the long-term future of the Iraqi people is far brighter and that the transition to power in the hands of the Iraqi people has and is occurring," she said.

她说：“尽管我上次访问之后发生的暴力活动使人在伊拉克的行动更加困难了，这一点令人失望，但是我绝对不怀疑，伊拉克人民的长远未来要光明得多。我们已经而且正在继续向伊拉克人民移交权力。”

On Sunday, the delegation will travel to U.S. bases elsewhere in Iraq to meet with American soldiers and Marines.

星期天，美国国会代表团预定访问伊拉克其它地区的美国基地，看望美国军人和海军陆战队军人。