President Barack Obama is expected on Friday to unveil his proposal for gradually reducing U.S. troop strength in Iraq. Mr. Obama will make the announcement at Camp Lejeune, a Marine base in North Carolina.
预计美国总统奥巴马星期五将公布有关逐步减少驻伊拉克美军的建议。奥巴马总统将在北卡罗来纳州的勒琼海军陆战队基地公布他的建议。
Thousands of Marines from Camp Lejeune have been deployed to Iraq during the course of the war.
在伊拉克战争期间，数千名美国海军陆战队员就是从这个基地前往伊拉克服役的。
About 500 Marines returned to the base from Iraq last week, and President Obama says he plans to bring many more home in the months ahead.
上个星期，大约500名海军陆战队员从伊拉克返回这个基地。奥巴马总统表示，他计划在今后的几个月里，让更多的美国军人返回美国。
Phasing out U.S. troop deployments to Iraq was one of Mr. Obama's campaign promises last year.
在去年竞选总统的时候，逐步降低驻伊美军的规模是奥巴马做出的承诺之一。
"In 16 months, we should be able to reduce our combat troops, provide some relief to military families and our troops, and bolster our efforts in Afghanistan so that we can capture and kill [Osama] bin Laden and crush al-Qaida," said President Obama.
奥巴马说：“我们应当能够在16个月内减少我们的作战部队，减轻军人家庭和我们部队的一些负担，同时加强我们在阿富汗的努力，使我们能够抓获并消灭本拉登，摧毁基地组织。”
In his first full day as president, Mr. Obama met with his defense advisers and discussed ways to draw down the number of U.S. troops in Iraq while ensuring that security needs are met.
在就任总统后的第一个工作日，奥巴马会见了他的国防顾问，讨论怎样在确保安全需要得到满足的情况下减少驻伊美军人数。
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says the president gave his advisers specific instructions.
白宫新闻秘书罗伯特·吉布斯说，奥巴马总统向他的顾问们做出了具体的指示。
"The president asked the national security team to put together a plan that they and he believed would accomplish the goal of removing our combat forces from Iraq in the most responsible way," said Robert Gibbs.
吉布斯说：“总统要求他的国家安全团队提出一个计划，以便以最负责任的方式达到从伊拉克撤出我们作战部队的目标。”
Like many government decisions, this one involved some compromise. Mr. Obama wanted to withdraw troops during a 16 month period. Military chiefs asked for 23 months. They apparently have settled on 19 months, with as many as 50,000 troops staying behind - most as trainers and advisers. That angered some lawmakers in the president's Democratic Party, who want all U.S. forces to leave Iraq.
和大多数政府决策一样，这个计划也包括一些妥协。奥巴马总统希望在16个月内撤出作战部队，军队将领们则要求在23个月内完成这一任务，双方显然最后确定为19个月。此后，还会有五万部队留在伊拉克，其中大部分是训练人员和顾问。一些民主党议员对此表示愤怒，因为他们希望所有美军人员全部离开伊拉克。
Gibbs says Mr. Obama has always talked about the need to leave some troops behind.
吉布斯说，奥巴马总统一直都认为有必要让一部分部队留下。
"The president also talked on the campaign that some force would remain in Iraq for limited missions, consistent with training and combating terrorism," he said.
他说：“总统在竞选过程中也曾表示，一些部队将留在伊拉克，完成与培训和反恐目标一致的有限使命。”
Republican Senator John McCain raises a different concern. He was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam conflict and he points out that that war started with U.S. troops acting as advisers.
共和党参议员约翰·麦凯恩提出了另一项关注。越战期间，麦凯恩曾是一名战俘。他指出，越战开始的时候，美国部队正是以顾问的角色参与那场战争的。
"The draw down will take place," said John McCain. "We will leave, I've read, as many as 50,000 - quote - 'advisers.' But let's also be realistic. Advisers in any conflict are in harm's way."
麦凯恩说：“部队削减将得以实施。我看到，我们将留下多达五万名他们所说的‘顾问’。但是，我们必须面对现实。在任何冲突当中，顾问也会受到伤害。”
McCain is the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee. He was defeated by Mr. Obama in last year's presidential election.
麦凯恩是参议院武装部队委员会最资深的共和党成员，在去年的总统选举中败给奥巴马。 |