My fellow citizens, at this hour American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.
"On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and concerted campaign. "
More than 35 countries are giving crucial support, from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense.
"To all of the men and women of the United States armed forces now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. "That trust is well placed.
"The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honorable and decent spirit of the American military.
"In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military; a final atrocity against his people. "I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will require our sustained commitment.
"We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people. "I know that the families of our military are praying that all those who serve will return safely and soon.
"Millions of Americans are praying with you for the safety of your loved ones and for the protection of the innocent. "For your sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the American people and you can know that our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done. "Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly, yet our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder.
"We will meet that threat now with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with armies of firefighters and police and doctors on the streets of our cities. "Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. And I assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures and we will accept no outcome but victory.
"My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others. And we will prevail.
"May God bless our country and all who defend her."
(Agencies)
同胞們，我們已經(jīng)開始了對伊拉克的軍事行動，我們要解除伊拉克的武裝，解放伊拉克的人民，避免世界陷入危險。
我已經(jīng)下達命令，聯(lián)軍已經(jīng)開始對固定的目標進行選擇性打擊，徹底銷毀薩達姆威脅這個世界的能力，這將是一次大規(guī)模的襲擊，這只是一個初始的階段。
至少35個國家向我們提供重要幫助，包括使用他們的基地、分享情報、提供后勤支援。所有參加這場戰(zhàn)爭的國家將和我們共同承擔這份責任、分享共同聯(lián)手的榮譽。
那些駐扎在中東地區(qū)的美國士兵們，那里的和平和人民現(xiàn)在就要靠你們了。
你們將不負這些信任。
你們的敵人將嘗到你們的勇敢和出色，被你們解放的人民將會見證美國軍隊勇往的精神，見證美國人的精神。
在這場戰(zhàn)斗中，美國所面對的敵人無視戰(zhàn)爭規(guī)則和道德準則。薩達姆將伊拉克軍隊設(shè)在了平民區(qū)，企圖將無辜的婦女、兒童、男人作為保護自己軍隊的盾牌，這是他對自己人民最后的暴行。
我希望所有的美國人、全世界的人民都知道，盟軍將盡一切努力保證避免傷害無辜人民，這可能會使我們的戰(zhàn)爭比預期更加艱難，時間更長。我們要幫助伊拉克人民實現(xiàn)一個團結(jié)、穩(wěn)定、自由的國度，這需要我們做出持久的承諾。
我們到伊拉克去，我們尊重伊拉克人民，并且尊重伊拉克人民偉大的文明和宗教信仰，我們對伊拉克并沒有野心，我們只是去解除威脅，將管理國家的權(quán)力重新歸還給伊拉克人民。
我知道，美國軍隊的家屬都在為士兵們祈禱，希望他們能夠盡早安全返回。
成千上萬的美國人正在祈禱親人安全，祈禱無辜人民能夠受到保護。
你們的犧牲將換來美國人民的尊重，一旦任務(wù)完成，你們將盡快回家。 美國并不愿意這場沖突發(fā)生，然而我們的目標是明確的，美國人民、我們的盟友不會對一個非法的政權(quán)心慈手軟，這個政權(quán)正使用大規(guī)模殺傷性武器威脅世界和平。
我們的陸軍、海軍、空軍現(xiàn)在正直面這些威脅，這是為了避免以后我們的消防員、警察和醫(yī)生在我們自己的城市街道上面對這樣的威脅。
現(xiàn)在戰(zhàn)爭已經(jīng)開始，速戰(zhàn)速決的唯一方法就是堅決打擊。我向大家保證，這不會是一場半途而廢的戰(zhàn)爭，除非勝利，我們不會罷休。
我們的國家和世界面臨的危險將被解除，我們將度過危險時期，繼續(xù)和平事業(yè)，我們將保衛(wèi)我們的自由，也將把自由帶給其他人。我們一定會成功。
上帝保佑我們的國家，保佑我們的戰(zhàn)士們。
(中國日報網(wǎng)站譯)
