America's top military leaders say they back President Barack Obama's plan to drawdown U.S. forces in Iraq. They indicated in broadcast interviews they are fairly confident the plan will move forward on schedule.
美军高级领导人说，他们支持奥巴马减少在伊拉克美军的计划。这些美军高级领导人在电视采访中表示，他们相当有信心，奥巴马的撤军计划将能如期付诸实施。
After extensive consultations with defense officials, the president went before members of the military Friday to announce his plan to end the war in Iraq.
在经过同国防官员的广泛磋商后，奥巴马星期五在美军官兵面前宣布了结束伊拉克战争的计划。
"By August 31st, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," said Mr. Obama.
“到2010年的8月31日，我们在伊拉克的战斗使命将结束。”
Roughly two-thirds of the 142,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq will come home. The remainder, 35 to 50,000, will stay behind as a transition force. In time, they too will leave.
在目前14万2千驻伊美军中，大约三分之二到那时将回国。剩下的3万5千到5万美军将作为过渡部队继续留在伊拉克。他们最终也会离开。
"I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011," he said.
奥巴马说：“我计划在2011年底之前撤除在伊拉克的所有美军部队。”
That timetable is in keeping with an agreement reached between the United States and Iraq in the last weeks of the Bush administration.
这个撤军时间表同前美国总统布什在他任期最后几个星期同伊拉克达成的协议相符。
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the only holdover from the Bush Cabinet, says President Obama retains the ability as commander-in-chief to modify the withdrawal plan. But during an appearance on the NBC television program Meet the Press, he appeared confident no changes will be needed.
布什政府中唯一留任的内阁成员、国防部长盖茨说，奥巴马总统作为三军总司令保留修改撤军计划的权力。但是，盖茨在美国广播公司的电视节目“与媒体见面”上认为，没有必要改变撤军计划，对此他似乎很有信心。
"I would characterize the likelihood of significant adjustments to this plan as fairly remote," said Gates.
盖茨说：“我认为大幅度调整目前撤军计划的可能性相当遥远。”
Gates was asked about criticism of the plan from members of the president's Democratic Party, who do not like the idea of a large transitional force in Iraq until 2011.
奥巴马所在的民主党的议员对这项撤军计划提出批评。这些议员不喜欢大量过渡部队在2011年前留在伊拉克的构想。
He stressed their mission will be very different from the combat forces now in place. The defense secretary acknowledged the remaining troops will still face some danger, but far less than today.
在有记者问这个问题时，盖茨强调，过渡部队的使命同目前在伊拉克的战斗部队的使命完全不同。盖茨承认，驻留在伊拉克的部队将仍面临某种威胁，但远比目前的少。
"It is a very different kind of mission and the units that will be left there will be characterized differently, they will be called advisory and assistance brigades," he said. "They will not be called combat brigades."
他说：“这是一个完全不同的使命，留在伊拉克的部队性质是完全不同的。他们将被叫做顾问和援助旅。他们不会被叫做战斗旅。”
U.S. commanders have indicated they are strongly supportive of the plan. The nation's top military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, told the Fox News Sunday program that he is comfortable with the president's decision.
美军指挥官表示，他们坚决支持奥巴马的撤军计划。美军参谋长联席会议主席马伦在福克斯星期天新闻电视节目说，他支持奥巴马总统的决定。
"Clearly, the conditions are much more positive than they were two years ago," said Mullen. "And the conditions are set for the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people, to take over their own country and be responsible for it."
马伦说：“很显然，伊拉克目前的形势比两年前要好得多。目前的情况为伊拉克政府、伊拉克人民接管他们自己国家，对他们国家负责提供了条件。”
Both Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen said they were pleased with the process that led to the withdrawal plan.
盖茨和马伦都认为，他们对撤军计划前的评估程序表示满意。
Mullen said the president listened extensively to the commanders. And Gates said he thought Mr. Obama was more analytical than his predecessor, George W. Bush.
马伦说，奥巴马广泛地听取了指挥官们的建议。盖茨说，他认为奥巴马比他的前任布什更善于分析。
"He makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue, and if they do not speak out, he calls on them," he said.
Gates said he does not know how long he might be willing to stay at the Pentagon, but admitted it might be a challenge to remain through President Obama's current four-year term in office.
盖茨说，他不知道他愿意在五角大楼待多久，但是他承认，要待满奥巴马四年的总统任期可能是个挑战。 |