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.

七年半以前，布什总统就是在这张办公桌旁宣布开始在伊拉克的军事行动。从那天晚上开始，至今局势已发生巨大变化。一场解除一个国家武装的战争变成了一场反叛乱的斗争。恐怖主义和宗派战争曾使伊拉克陷入分崩离析的危险。数千名美国人献出了自己的生命；数以万计的人受伤。我们在国外的关系一度紧张。我们国内的团结遇到了考验。

These are the rough waters encountered during the course of one of America’s longest wars. Yet there has been one constant amidst these shifting tides. At every turn, America’s men and women in uniform have served with courage and resolve. As Commander-in-Chief, I am incredibly proud of their service. And like all Americans, I’m awed by their sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families.

美国经历了持续时间最长的战争之一，在这个过程中遇到了上述种种惊涛骇浪。然而，在潮起潮落之时，有一点始终不变。在每一个转折的关头，美国的男女军人都满怀勇气和信念为国效力。作为总司令，我为他们的贡献感到无比自豪。我同所有美国人一样，为他们做出的牺牲，为他们的家属做出的牺牲感到无比敬佩。

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军人完成了分配给他们的每一项使命。他们战胜了一个为本国人民制造恐怖的政权。我们的军队与同样作出了巨大牺牲的伊拉克人民和联盟伙伴一起，逐街逐巷地进行作战，帮助伊拉克抓住机会，争取更美好的未来。他们为保护伊拉克人民改变战术，为伊拉克安全部队提供训练，铲除了一个个恐怖主义头目。由于我国军队和民事人员的参与，也由于伊拉克人民保持坚韧不拔的精神，伊拉克获得了迎接新的命运的机会，即使依然面临众多的挑战。