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.

七年半以前，布什總統(tǒng)就是在這張辦公桌旁宣布開始在伊拉克的軍事行動。從那天晚上開始，至今局勢已發(fā)生巨大變化。一場解除一個國家武裝的戰(zhàn)爭變成了一場反叛亂的斗爭。恐怖主義和宗派戰(zhàn)爭曾使伊拉克陷入分崩離析的危險。數(shù)千名美國人獻出了自己的生命；數(shù)以萬計的人受傷。我們在國外的關(guān)系一度緊張。我們國內(nèi)的團結(jié)遇到了考驗。

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

美國經(jīng)歷了持續(xù)時間最長的戰(zhàn)爭之一，在這個過程中遇到了上述種種驚濤駭浪。然而，在潮起潮落之時，有一點始終不變。在每一個轉(zhuǎn)折的關(guān)頭，美國的男女軍人都滿懷勇氣和信念為國效力。作為總司令，我為他們的貢獻感到無比自豪。我同所有美國人一樣，為他們做出的犧牲，為他們的家屬做出的犧牲感到無比敬佩。

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.

在伊拉克服役的美國軍人完成了分配給他們的每一項使命。他們戰(zhàn)勝了一個為本國人民制造恐怖的政權(quán)。我們的軍隊與同樣作出了巨大犧牲的伊拉克人民和聯(lián)盟伙伴一起，逐街逐巷地進行作戰(zhàn)，幫助伊拉克抓住機會，爭取更美好的未來。他們?yōu)楸Ｗo伊拉克人民改變戰(zhàn)術(shù)，為伊拉克安全部隊提供訓(xùn)練，鏟除了一個個恐怖主義頭目。由于我國軍隊和民事人員的參與，也由于伊拉克人民保持堅韌不拔的精神，伊拉克獲得了迎接新的命運的機會，即使依然面臨眾多的挑戰(zhàn)。