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?wù)劷Y(jié)束伊拉克戰(zhàn)斗任務(wù)，我們正在面臨的安全挑戰(zhàn)，以及如何重建我們的國(guó)家。

我知道，許多美國(guó)人對(duì)這一歷史性時(shí)刻依然半信半疑，但我們現(xiàn)在確實(shí)已經(jīng)結(jié)束了持續(xù)近10年的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)。我們經(jīng)歷了漫長(zhǎng)而痛苦的經(jīng)濟(jì)衰退。在這些風(fēng)暴之中，我們努力建設(shè)國(guó)家未來(lái)、維護(hù)長(zhǎng)期和平和繁榮的夢(mèng)想，似乎一度變得有些遙不可及。

但是這個(gè)里程碑應(yīng)該提醒所有美國(guó)人，未來(lái)是我們的，關(guān)鍵在于我們?nèi)绾螡M(mǎn)懷信心地去實(shí)現(xiàn)。它也在向全世界發(fā)出一個(gè)信息：美國(guó)打算繼續(xù)維持和加強(qiáng)我們?cè)谛率兰o(jì)的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力。

7年半前，在這張桌子前面，布什總統(tǒng)宣布伊拉克軍事行動(dòng)開(kāi)始。自從那晚開(kāi)始，已經(jīng)發(fā)生了太多改變。戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)解除了一個(gè)國(guó)家的武裝，變成了鎮(zhèn)壓叛亂的戰(zhàn)斗。恐怖主義和宗教沖突威脅著撕裂的伊拉克；成千上萬(wàn)的美國(guó)人受傷，甚至為此付出了生命；我們與外國(guó)的關(guān)系變得緊張，我們?cè)趪?guó)內(nèi)的團(tuán)結(jié)受到考驗(yàn)。

伊拉克戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)是美國(guó)近代參與的持續(xù)時(shí)間最長(zhǎng)的戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)之一，其中經(jīng)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(guó)的軍隊(duì)。在每個(gè)轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)，美國(guó)的軍人們都依靠勇氣和決心完成任務(wù)。作為三軍總司令，我為他們感到驕傲。像所有美國(guó)人一樣，我對(duì)他們及其家庭做出的犧牲充滿(mǎn)敬畏。

在伊拉克服役的美國(guó)人完成了每一個(gè)被賦予的任務(wù)：他們推翻了實(shí)行恐怖統(tǒng)治的政權(quán)；我們的軍隊(duì)與伊拉克人和其他做出巨大犧牲的盟友一起并肩戰(zhàn)斗，幫助伊拉克人抓住了創(chuàng)造更美好未來(lái)的機(jī)會(huì)；他們改變了保護(hù)伊拉克人的戰(zhàn)術(shù)，訓(xùn)練伊拉克安全部隊(duì)，追捕恐怖主義領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人。因?yàn)槲覀兊能婈?duì)和公民，因?yàn)橐晾巳嗣竦闹С郑晾双@得了擁抱新生的機(jī)會(huì)，即使他們面臨著諸多挑戰(zhàn)。

今晚，我宣布美國(guó)在伊拉克的戰(zhàn)斗任務(wù)結(jié)束。伊拉克自由行動(dòng)結(jié)束，伊拉克人現(xiàn)在必須承擔(dān)起保護(hù)自己國(guó)家安全的重?fù)?dān)，這是我競(jìng)選美國(guó)總統(tǒng)時(shí)向美國(guó)人民做出的承諾。

去年2月份，我宣布了一項(xiàng)計(jì)劃，將我們的戰(zhàn)斗部隊(duì)撤出伊拉克，集中全力加強(qiáng)伊拉克安全部隊(duì)，支持伊拉克政府和人民，這些就是我們已經(jīng)做完的。我們已經(jīng)從伊拉克撤出近10萬(wàn)部隊(duì)，我們已經(jīng)關(guān)閉或者向伊拉克人轉(zhuǎn)交了數(shù)百座基地，我們已經(jīng)將數(shù)以百萬(wàn)計(jì)的武器裝備撤出伊拉克。

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