据外电报道，当地时间8月31日晚8时，美国总统奥巴马在白宫发表讲话，正式宣布美国在伊拉克的7年作战任务结束。以下是奥巴马讲话全文：

　　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.

　　晚上好。今晚，我想对你们谈一谈我们在伊拉克作战任务的结果，我们当前面临的安全挑战，以及我们重建美国经济的必要性。

　　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.

　　我明白，对于许多美国人而言，这一历史性时刻的来临恰逢存有太多不确定性之时。现在，我们经历了一场近十年的战争。我们经历了漫长而痛苦的经济衰退。在这些暴风雨中的某些时候，我们试图为国家打造的未来——一个有着持久和平和长期繁荣的未来——似乎显得遥不可及。

　　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.

　　不过，这个具有里程碑意义的重要事件应该提醒所有美国人，如果我们带着自信和承诺继续前进，未来就会由我们塑造。它也应该向世界传达一个信息，在这个新的世纪里，美国人打算维持并加强我们的领导地位。

　　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.

　　七年半前，在这张办公桌前，布什总统宣布我们在伊拉克的军事行动开始。自那天晚上以来，情况发生了许多变化。一场解除国家武装的战争已经变成了一场打击叛乱的战争。恐怖主义和宗派战争威胁要将伊拉克撕裂。数千美国人牺牲了自己的生命，数万美国人在战争中受伤。我们的对外关系面临困扰。我们的国内团结受到了挑战。

　　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.

　　伊拉克战争是美国经历过的耗时最长的战争之一，而这些都是我们在此期间遭遇到的风浪。然而，在这些不断转变的浪潮中，却有一个始终未变的主题。无论何时，美国的士兵们都满怀勇气和决心在服役。作为总司令，我为他们感到自豪。就像所有美国人一样，他们的牺牲，他们家人的牺牲，令我心生敬仰之情。

　　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.

　　在伊拉克服役的美国人完成了他们被赋予的每一个任务。他们瓦解了一个对国民实施恐怖统治的政权。与同样作出巨大牺牲的伊拉克和盟国伙伴一起，我们的军人打下了一个又一个地区，帮助伊拉克人抓住了创造美好未来的机会。他们转变战术以保护伊拉克人民，训练伊拉克安全部队，抓捕恐怖组织领导人。因为我们的军人和人民、因为伊拉克人民坚韧不拔的精神，伊拉克得到了拥抱新命运的机会，尽管前面的路仍有诸多挑战。

　　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.

　　所以，今晚，我宣布，美国在伊拉克的作战使命已经结束。伊拉克自由行动结束了，现在伊拉克人民将承担其国家安全的主要责任。

　　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.

　　这是我身为总统候选人时对美国人民做出的承诺。去年2月，我宣布了一项计划，把我们的战斗部队撤出伊拉克，同时加倍努力强化伊拉克安全部队，支持伊拉克政府和人民。这就是我们所做的事情。我们已经从伊拉克撤离了近10万美国士兵。我们已关闭或向伊拉克移交了数百个基地，我们已经把数百万套装备撤离了伊拉克。

　　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.

　　这就完成了一个让伊拉克为自己的安全负责的转变。去年夏天，美国士兵撤出了伊拉克的城市，而伊拉克军队则身怀出色技术及对同胞们的承诺，进驻了伊拉克城市。尽管恐怖袭击在伊拉克时有发生，但是这里的安全事故也已接近了自战争开始以来的最低记录。伊拉克军队已经开始打击基地组织，在伊拉克领导的行动中，许多基地组织头目被消灭。

　　This year also saw Iraq hold credible elections that drew a strong turnout. A caretaker administration is in place as Iraqis form a government based on the results of that election. Tonight, I encourage Iraq's leaders to move forward with a sense of urgency to form an inclusive government that is just, representative, and accountable to the Iraqi people. And when that government is in place, there should be no doubt: the Iraqi people will have a strong partner in the United States. Our combat mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq's future is not.

　　今年，伊拉克还举行了一次众人踊跃参加的公平选举。在根据选举结果组建政府的过程中，伊拉克人民成立了临时政府。今晚，我鼓励伊拉克领导人心怀紧迫感，组建一个公正、具有代表性、对伊拉克人负责、覆盖广泛的政府。当这个政府成形的时候，毫无疑问，美国将成为伊拉克人民的强大合作伙伴。我们的作战使命正在结束，但我们对伊拉克未来的承诺并未结束。