VOA双语新闻 Bush Awards Presidential Medals of Freedom（在线收听）

President Bush has awarded America's highest civilian honor to three men who were instrumental in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

美国总统布什把美国非军人最高荣誉奖章授予了三个在伊拉克战争中曾起到关键作用的美国人。

President Bush gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former CIA Director George Tenet, former U.S. Administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer, and former U.S. Commander in Iraq General Tommy Franks.

美国总统布什把总统自由勋章授予前中央情报局局长特纳特、前美国驻伊拉克行政长官布莱默和前驻伊美军司令福兰克斯。

"These three men symbolize the nobility of public service, the good character of our country, and the good influence of America on the world," the president said.

布什说，他们三个人象征着服务公众事业的崇高性。我们国家的优秀品质和美国对世界的积极影响。

Director Tenet stepped down as head of the CIA this year, ending a tenure that began under former President Bill Clinton. The CIA provided much of the intelligence leading up to the invasion of Iraq, with Director Tenet reportedly telling cabinet members that information about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was a "slam dunk."

今年特纳特从中央情报局局长的位置上退下来，结束了他自从克林顿时期就开始担任的这个职务的任期。中央情报局提供了大量导致美国发动伊拉克战争的情报。据称，特纳特曾对布什政府的成员说，有关伊拉克拥有大规模杀伤性武器的情报是确信无疑的。

Since the fall of Baghdad, U.S. inspectors have concluded that Iraq did not have the weapons of mass destruction that President Bush warned about. But there was no talk of intelligence failures at the White House Tuesday, as Mr. Bush praised his former intelligence chief for fighting terrorism.

自从巴格达陷落之后，美国武器核查人员得出的结论说，伊拉克并没有布什总统所警告的大规模杀伤性武器。但是星期二，白宫并没有谈论情报失误的问题，相反，布什总统称赞了这位前任情报部门主管对反恐斗争的贡献。

"His tireless efforts have brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the American people, and today we honor a fine public servant and patriot in George John Tenet," he said.

布什说：“他孜孜不倦的工作终于使美国的敌人得到了惩罚并保证美国人民得到了更可靠的安全。今天，我们表彰乔治·约翰·特纳特作为一个优秀的公众服务者和爱国者。”

Ambassador Bremer's job as U.S. administrator in Iraq ended earlier this year with the transfer of power to an interim Iraqi government. Since then, Mr. Bremer has publicly questioned U.S. troop strength in Iraq and has drawn criticism for his planning for a post-war transition which is beset by continuing violence.

随着权力移交给伊拉克临时政府，布莱默大使作为美国驻伊拉克行政长官的任务结束了。但是从那时起，布莱默公开质疑美军在伊拉克的力量；他制定的战后过渡时期计划由于伊拉克暴力活动不断而遭到了批评。

President Bush thanked the man he calls Jerry for putting in place the framework for Iraqi elections scheduled for January that Mr. Bush says will spread democracy throughout the region.

布什感谢布莱默为伊拉克一月选举制定了框架。布什说，这将会帮助在中东地区扩大民主。

"Jerry will be remembered for his superb work in laying the foundations for a new democracy in the Middle East," he said.

布什说：“人们将记住他为奠定中东民主事业的基础所做的出色工作。”

Tommy Franks was wounded twice in Vietnam and served in the first Persian Gulf War, but President Bush says his greatest challenge, and greatest service, followed the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 when General Franks took command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

福兰克斯曾在越南战场两度负伤，并参加了第一次海湾战争。但是布什总统说，福兰克斯将军曾面临的最大挑战，所做出的最大贡献是在“9/11”恐怖袭击之后出任驻阿富汗和伊拉克的美军司令一职。

"As the commander of CENTCOM, Tommy Franks held responsibility for defending American interests in some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the world," he said. "It's a job that requires the toughness of a general, the foresight of a strategist, the tact of a diplomat, and the skill of a good manager. Tommy Franks led the forces that fought and won two wars in the defense of the world's security and help liberate more than 50 million people from two of the worst tyrannies in the world."

布什说：“作为中央司令部的司令，福兰克斯将军担负起了在世界上最遥远、条件最恶劣的地区捍卫美国利益的责任。这样的工作需要有将军的刚毅、战略家的眼光、外交家的灵活和管理人的技巧。福兰克斯领导军队进行了并赢得了两场保卫世界安全的战争，从世界上两个最恶劣的专制政权手里解放出了五千多万人民。”

The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established by President Harry Truman in the 1950s to recognize civilians who have made especially meritorious contributions to U.S. interests, world peace, or cultural endeavors. Past recipients include Pope John Paul II, former NATO Chief George Robertson, television chef Julia Child, and entertainer Rita Moreno.

总统自由勋章是在1950年代由杜鲁门总统设立的。这个勋章是用来表彰那些为美国利益、世界和平和文化事业做出卓越贡献的非军事人员。过去被授予这个勋章的人中包括教皇约翰·保罗二世、前北约总司令乔治·罗伯逊、电视厨师明星朱俐亚·乔尔德和电影明星丽塔·莫雷诺。