Indeed, one of the lessons of our effort in Iraq is that American influence around the world is not a function of military force alone. We must use all elements of our power — including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of America’s example — to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must project a vision of the future that’s based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes — a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also the limitless possibilities of our time.

确实，我们从在伊拉克行动中吸取的教训之一是，美国在全世界的影响并不仅仅局限于军事力量的作用，我们必须使用我国实力的各个方面 —— 包括我们的外交、我们的经济力量和美国的榜样力量 —— 保障我国的利益，支持我们的盟友。我们对于未来提出的设想不能只出于我们的忧虑，而且也需要考虑到我们的希望 —— 这个设想需要既认识到全世界确实存在的危险，同时也看到我们这个时代能提供无穷的机会。

Today, old adversaries are at peace, and emerging democracies are potential partners. New markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas. A new push for peace in the Middle East will begin here tomorrow. Billions of young people want to move beyond the shackles of poverty and conflict. As the leader of the free world, America will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and destruction — we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to expand freedom and opportunity for all people.

今天，以往的对手和平相处，新兴的民主政体成为潜在的伙伴。我国商品的新市场遍布从亚洲到美洲的广大地区，推进中东和平的新一轮努力明天将在这里开始。亿万年轻人冀望着摆脱贫困和冲突的枷锁。作为自由世界的领袖，美国将不仅在战场上战胜那些传播仇恨和毁灭的败类，——我们还将带领那些愿意与我们共同努力的人们，把自由和机会扩展到全人类。

Now, that effort must begin within our own borders. Throughout our history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and security. But we have also understood that our nation’s strength and influence abroad must be firmly anchored in our prosperity at home. And the bedrock of that prosperity must be a growing middle class.

现在，我们必须在我们国内开始这种努力，纵观我国历史，美国一贯愿意承担在全世界增进自由和人类尊严的重任，并认识到这与我们自身的自由和安全息息相关。但我们也了解，我国在国外的力量和影响必须牢固地建立在国内繁荣的基础上，而繁荣的基石必须是日益兴盛的中产阶级。

Unfortunately, over the last decade, we’ve not done what’s necessary to shore up the foundations of our own prosperity. We spent a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle-class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation’s long-term competitiveness is put at risk.

令人遗憾的是，过去10年来，我们没有采取必要的措施加强我们自身繁荣的基础。我们在战事上开支了万亿美元，往往通过从海外借贷。因此，这也减少了对我们本国人民的投资，并导致创纪录的赤字。长期以来，我们拖延了对一系列问题的艰难决策，从我国的制造业基地到我国的能源政策，乃至教育改革等等。结果，大量中产阶级家庭工作更辛苦，报酬却在减少，同时我国的长期竞争力面临危险。