Good evening. Tonight, I'd like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.

I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We have now been through nearly a decade of war. We have endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we are trying to build for our nation - a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity may seem beyond our reach.

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.

These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America's longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst those shifting tides. At every turn, America's men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am proud of their service. Like all Americans, I am awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.

The Americans who have served in Iraq completed every mission they were given. They defeated a regime that had terrorized its people. Together with Iraqis and coalition partners who made huge sacrifices of their own, our troops fought block by block to help Iraq seize the chance for a better future. They shifted tactics to protect the Iraqi people; trained Iraqi Security Forces; and took out terrorist leaders. Because of our troops and civilians -and because of the resilience of the Iraqi people - Iraq has the opportunity to embrace a new destiny, even though many challenges remain.

So tonight, I am announcing that the American combat mission in Iraq has ended. Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country.

This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office. Last February, I announced a plan that would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq's Security Forces and support its government and people. That is what we have done. We have removed nearly 100,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. We have closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis. And we have moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq.

This completes a transition to Iraqi responsibility for their own security. U.S. troops pulled out of Iraq's cities last summer, and Iraqi forces have moved into the lead with considerable skill and commitment to their fellow citizens. Even as Iraq continues to suffer terrorist attacks, security incidents have been near the lowest on record since the war began. And Iraqi forces have taken the fight to al Qaeda, removing much of its leadership in Iraqi-led operations.

大家晚上好，今晚我想與你們談談結束伊拉克戰斗任務，我們正在面臨的安全挑戰，以及如何重建我們的國家。

我知道，許多美國人對這一歷史性時刻依然半信半疑，但我們現在確實已經結束了持續近10年的戰爭。我們經歷了漫長而痛苦的經濟衰退。在這些風暴之中，我們努力建設國家未來、維護長期和平和繁榮的夢想，似乎一度變得有些遙不可及。

但是這個里程碑應該提醒所有美國人，未來是我們的，關鍵在于我們如何滿懷信心地去實現。它也在向全世界發出一個信息：美國打算繼續維持和加強我們在新世紀的領導力。

7年半前，在這張桌子前面，布什總統宣布伊拉克軍事行動開始。自從那晚開始，已經發生了太多改變。戰爭解除了一個國家的武裝，變成了鎮壓叛亂的戰斗。恐怖主義和宗教沖突威脅著撕裂的伊拉克；成千上萬的美國人受傷，甚至為此付出了生命；我們與外國的關系變得緊張，我們在國內的團結受到考驗。

伊拉克戰爭是美國近代參與的持續時間最長的戰爭之一，其中經歷了多次洶涌海浪的襲擊，但在變化多端的潮汐之間，唯有一種力量保持不變，他們就是美國的軍隊。在每個轉折點，美國的軍人們都依靠勇氣和決心完成任務。作為三軍總司令，我為他們感到驕傲。像所有美國人一樣，我對他們及其家庭做出的犧牲充滿敬畏。

在伊拉克服役的美國人完成了每一個被賦予的任務：他們推翻了實行恐怖統治的政權；我們的軍隊與伊拉克人和其他做出巨大犧牲的盟友一起并肩戰斗，幫助伊拉克人抓住了創造更美好未來的機會；他們改變了保護伊拉克人的戰術，訓練伊拉克安全部隊，追捕恐怖主義領導人。因為我們的軍隊和公民，因為伊拉克人民的支持，伊拉克獲得了擁抱新生的機會，即使他們面臨著諸多挑戰。

今晚，我宣布美國在伊拉克的戰斗任務結束。伊拉克自由行動結束，伊拉克人現在必須承擔起保護自己國家安全的重擔，這是我競選美國總統時向美國人民做出的承諾。

去年2月份，我宣布了一項計劃，將我們的戰斗部隊撤出伊拉克，集中全力加強伊拉克安全部隊，支持伊拉克政府和人民，這些就是我們已經做完的。我們已經從伊拉克撤出近10萬部隊，我們已經關閉或者向伊拉克人轉交了數百座基地，我們已經將數以百萬計的武器裝備撤出伊拉克。

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