原文:
President Bush's address to the nation
March 17, 2003
"My fellow citizens, events in Iraq have now reached the final days of
decision.
For more than a decade, the United States and other nations have pursued
patient and honorable efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime without war. That
regime pledged to reveal and destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction
as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
Since then, the world has engaged in 12 years of diplomacy. We have passed
more than a dozen resolutions in the United Nations Security Council. We
have sent hundreds of weapons inspectors to oversee the disarmament of Iraq.
Our good faith has not been returned. The Iraqi regime has used diplomacy as
a ploy to gain time and advantage. It has uniformly defied Security Council
resolutions demanding full disarmament.
Over the years, U.N. weapons inspectors have been threatened by Iraqi
officials, electronically bugged and systematically deceived. Peaceful
efforts to disarm the Iraq regime have failed again and again because we are
not dealing with peaceful men.
Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the
Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons
ever devised. This regime has already used weapons of mass destruction
against Iraq's neighbors and against Iraq's people.
The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a
deep hatred of America and our friends and it has aided, trained and
harbored terrorists, including operatives of Al Qaeda. The danger is clear:
Using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons obtained with the
help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill
thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any
other.
The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this
threat, but we will do everything to defeat it. Instead of drifting along
toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety.
Before the day of horror can come, before it is too late to act, this danger
will be removed.
The United States of America has the sovereign authority to use force in
assuring its own national security. That duty falls to me as commander of
chief by the oath I have sworn, by the oath I will keep. Recognizing the
threat to our country, the United States Congress voted overwhelmingly last
year to support the use of force against Iraq.
America tried to work with the United Nations to address this threat because
we wanted to resolve the issue peacefully. We believe in the mission of the
United Nations.
One reason the U.N. was founded after the Second World War was to confront
aggressive dictators actively and early, before they can attack the innocent
and destroy the peace.
In the case of Iraq, the Security Council did act in the early 1990s. Under
Resolutions 678 and 687, both still in effect, the United States and our
allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass
destruction. This is not a question of authority, it is a question of will.
Last September, I went to the U.N. General Assembly and urged the nations of
the world to unite and bring an end to this danger. On November 8th, the
Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in
material breach of its obligations and vowing serious consequences if Iraq
did not fully and immediately disarm.
Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed. And it will not
disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power.
For the last four and a half months, the United States and our allies have
worked within the Security Council to enforce that council's longstanding
demands. Yet some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly
announced that they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of
Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger, but not our
resolve to meet it.
Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this
threat to peace, and a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just
demands of the world.
The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its
responsibilities, so we will rise to ours. In recent days, some governments
in the Middle East have been doing their part. They have delivered public
and private messages urging the dictator to leave Iraq so that disarmament
can proceed peacefully.
He has thus far refused.
All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam
Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so
will result in military conflict commenced at a time of our choosing.
For their own safety, all foreign nationals, including journalists and
inspectors, should leave Iraq immediately.
Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have
a message for them: If we must begin a military campaign, it will be
directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you.
As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and
medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror and we will
help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free.
In free Iraq there will be no more wars of aggression against your
neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no
more torture chambers and rape rooms.
The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near.
It is too late for Saddam Hussein to remain in power. It is not too late for
the Iraq military to act with honor and protect your country, by permitting
the peaceful entry of coalition forces to eliminate weapons of mass
destruction. Our forces will give Iraqi military units clear instructions on
actions they can take to avoid being attack and destroyed.
I urge every member of the Iraqi military and intelligence services: If war
comes, do not fight for a dying regime that is not worth your own life.
And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to
this warning: In any conflict, your fate will depend on your actions. Do not
destroy oil wells, a source of wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people. Do
not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone,
including the Iraqi people. War crimes will be prosecuted, war criminals
will be punished and it will be no defense to say, "I was just following
orders." Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can
know that every measure has been taken to avoid war and every measure will
be taken to win it.
Americans understand the costs of conflict because we have paid them in the
past. War has no certainty except the certainty of sacrifice.
Yet the only way to reduce the harm and duration of war is to apply the full
force and might of our military, and we are prepared to do so.
If Saddam Hussein attempts to cling to power, he will remain a deadly foe
until the end.
In desperation, he and terrorist groups might try to conduct terrorist
operations against the American people and our friends. These attacks are
not inevitable. They are, however, possible.
And this very fact underscores the reason we cannot live under the threat of
blackmail. The terrorist threat to America and the world will be diminished
the moment that Saddam Hussein is disarmed. Our government is on heightened
watch against these dangers. Just as we are preparing to ensure victory in
Iraq, we are taking further actions to protect our homeland.
In recent days, American authorities have expelled from the country certain
individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services.
Among other measures, I have directed additional security at our airports
and increased Coast Guard patrols of major seaports. The Department of
Homeland Security is working closely with the nation's governors to increase
armed security at critical facilities across America.
Should enemies strike our country, they would be attempting to shift our
attention with panic and weaken our morale with fear. In this, they would
fail.
No act of theirs can alter the course or shake the resolve of this country.
We are a peaceful people, yet we are not a fragile people. And we will not
be intimidated by thugs and killers.
If our enemies dare to strike us, they and all who have aided them will face
fearful consequences.
We are now acting because the risks of inaction would be far greater. In one
year, or five years, the power of Iraq to inflict harm on all free nations
would be multiplied many times over. With these capabilities, Saddam Hussein
and his terrorist allies could choose the moment of deadly conflict when
they are strongest. We choose to meet that threat now where it arises,
before it can appear suddenly in our skies and cities.
The cause of peace requires all free nations to recognize new and undeniable
realities. In the 20th century, some chose to appease murderous dictators
whose threats were allowed to grow into genocide and global war.
In this century, when evil men plot chemical, biological and nuclear terror,
a policy of appeasement could bring destruction of a kind never before seen
on this earth. Terrorists and terrorist states do not reveal these threats
with fair notice in formal declarations.
And responding to such enemies only after they have struck first is not self
defense. It is suicide. The security of the world requires disarming Saddam
Hussein now.
As we enforce the just demands of the world, we will also honor the deepest
commitments of our country. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we believe the Iraqi
people are deserving and capable of human liberty, and when the dictator has
departed, they can set an example to all the Middle East of a vital and
peaceful and self-governing nation.
The United States with other countries will work to advance liberty and
peace in that region. Our goal will not be achieved overnight, but it can
come over time. The power and appeal of human liberty is felt in every life
and every land, and the greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and
violence, and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of
peace. That is the future we choose.
Free nations have a duty to defend our people by uniting against the
violent, and tonight, as we have done before, America and our allies accept
that responsibility.
Good night, and may God continue to bless America."
译稿:
同胞们,伊拉克的事件现在已经到了做出最后决定的时刻。十多年来,美国和其它国家一直在付出耐心的、卓越的努力,以便不通过战争解除伊拉克政权武装。作为1991年海湾战争结束的一个条件,伊拉克曾许诺公布并销毁所有的大规模杀伤性武器。
自此之后,世界已经进行了12年的外交努力。我们在联合国安理会已经通过了十多项决议。我们已经派出数以百计的武器核查人员监督伊拉克解除武装。我们的良好信念没有得到回报。伊拉克政权一直利用外交作为争取时间和优势的策略,然而伊拉克总是蔑视安理会要求其解除武装的决议。
数年来,伊拉克官员一直威胁联合国武器核查人员,要么通过电子设备进行阻挠,要么系统化地进行欺骗。和平解除伊拉克政权武装的努力已接二连三遭遇失败,因为与我们打交道的不是一个爱好和平的人。本届以及历届美国政府搜集的情报充分证明,伊拉克政权仍在拥有和隐藏人类所发明的最致命的一些武器。这个政权曾经使用大规模杀伤性武器对付伊拉克的邻国和伊拉克人民。
伊拉克政权历史上曾经对中东地区多次发动了莫名其妙的侵略,对美国和我们的盟国有着深厚的仇恨,曾经资助、训练和庇护恐怖分子,包括“基地”组织成员。
危险已经非常明显:恐怖分子将在伊拉克的帮助下使用化学、生物或者有一天将会是核武器,实现他们既定的野心和杀害我们国家以及他国数以万计的无辜民众。美国和其它国家尽管什么也没有做,却招致这样的威胁;不过我们将采取一切措施将他们击败。我们将建设一条通向安全的大道,而不是滑向悲剧的深渊。
在恐怖之日来临之前,在还有时间采取行动之前,这个威胁将被清除。美利坚合众国完全有权利使用武力确保我们国家的安全。这个任务落到了我这个总司令肩上,我曾经为此发誓,我也准备继续履行我的誓言。
美国国会,认识到我们国家面临的威胁,在去年以绝对多数票决定支持用武力对付伊拉克。
美国曾努力同联合国一道去应付这个威胁,那是因为我们愿意和平的解决这个问题。我们相信联合国的使命。
在第二次世界大战后宣告成立的联合国的一个原因,就是尽早并且积极地遏制那些侵略成性的独裁者,在他们向无辜者发起攻击和破坏和平之前阻止他们。
在伊拉克问题上,安理会在上个世纪90年代曾经发挥过作用。在678和687号两个现在仍然有效的决议指导下,美国和其盟国得到授权使用武力去清除伊拉克的大规模杀伤性武器。
这些政府如同我们一样,能够认识到威胁的所在;但是他们没能和我们一起,用实际行动对付威胁。
然而,还有许多国家有这份决心和坚毅,向和平的威胁发出挑战,并且正在结成广泛的联盟,准备去迎接这个世界对他们的召唤。联合国安理会没有履行自己的责任,所以,我们必须站起来,去履行我们的责任。
在最近几天,中东的一些政府也在履行他们的职责。他们通过公开或者私下的渠道传递信息,要求这个独裁者离开伊拉克,从而和平地解决伊拉克的武装。可是,他一直拒绝这么做!
几十年的欺骗和暴行现在该结束了!萨达姆和他的儿子必须在48小时内离开伊拉克。若他们继续拒绝这样做将招致军事打击,打击何时开始将由我们选择。所有外国公民,包括记者和核查员,为了他们自己的安全起见,应该立即离开伊拉克。
今晚,许多伊拉克人都能通过广播听到我演讲的译文,我要向他们传递这样一个信息:如果必须展开军事行动,行动的目标是无法无天的人们,他们统治着你们的国家,与你们过不去。当我们的联军剥夺了他们的权力之后,我们将向你们提供你们所需要的药品和食品,我们将彻底摧毁恐怖机器,我们将帮助你们建设一个繁荣自由的新伊拉克。
在一个自由的伊拉克,将不再会有对你们邻国的侵略战争,不再有毒药工厂,不再有对不同政见者的杀害,不再有酷刑室和强奸之所。独裁者即将消失,解放你们的日子不远了。
现在,萨达姆·侯赛因想再赖在台上已经为时已晚。但是,对伊拉克军队来说,采取行动保护你们国家还为时不晚——允许联军平静地进入伊拉克来销毁大规模杀伤性武器。我们的军队将给伊拉克军事部门清晰明了的指令,告诉他们如何行动才能避免被攻击和摧毁的命运。
我要求伊拉克军队和情报机构的每一名成员:当战争来临时,不要为一个行将死亡的政权卖命,那是不值得的。
同时,伊拉克所有的军事人员和平民都应该认真听听这一警告:在任何冲突中,你的行动将决定你的命运。不要烧毁油井,这是属于伊拉克人民的财富。不要对任何人使用大规模杀伤性武器,包括伊拉克人民。战争罪将受到追究,战犯将受到惩罚,到那时,“我只是服从命令”将不能成为借口或免受惩罚的理由。
如果萨达姆·侯赛因选择对抗,美国人民应该知道,我们已经采取所有手段避免战争,也会采取任何手段打赢战争。美国人明白冲突的代价,因为我们曾经付出过。可以肯定的一点是,战争是必须付出牺牲的。
但减少战争的危害和战争时间的唯一途径是动用我军的全部力量,我们已经做好准备。如果萨达姆·侯赛因不愿放弃权利,他就永远是我们的死敌,直到他的末日来临。
他和恐怖主义团体可能不顾一切地试图针对美国人民和我们的朋友发动恐怖主义袭击。这些袭击不是不可避免的,但它们是可能发生的。而这一事实进一步强调了我们不能在讹诈的威胁下生活。从萨达姆·侯赛因被解除武装的那一刻起,美国和世界面临的恐怖主义威胁将会减轻。
我们的政府正对这些威胁进行更高级别的警戒。正如我们为保证在伊拉克获胜而正在作准备,我们正在采取进一步措施保卫我们的祖国。
最近几天来,美国当局已经将与伊拉克情报部门有牵连的一些人驱逐出境。在其它措施方面,我已经下令在机场加强安全,在主要港口增强海岸警卫队巡逻。国土安全部正在与各州长加强合作,以确保全国境内关键设施的安全。
一旦敌人袭击我们的国家,他们将试图利用恐慌来转移我们的视线,利用恐惧挫伤我们的士气。他们这样做注定要失败。他们的任何行动都不会改变或者动摇我们国家的意志。我们是爱好和平的人民,但我们不是软弱无力的人民。暴徒和凶手吓不倒我们。如果我们的敌人胆敢袭击我们,他们以及所有支持过他们的人都将遭受可怕的后果。
我们现在之所以采取行动是因为不行动的危险会更大。在1年或者5年的时间内,伊拉克伤害所有自由国家的能力将有数倍的提高。拥有这些能力之后,萨达姆·侯赛因和他的恐怖盟友将在他们最强大的时候制造最致命的袭击。在这种危险突然出现在我们的空中和城市之前,在它初露端倪的时候,我们将应对这种威胁。
和平事业需要所有的自由国家认清这一新的不容置疑的现实。在20世纪,有些人选择对无情的独裁者实施绥靖政策,让他们的威胁日益增长而发展成为种族清洗和全球战争。
在这个世纪,当邪恶的人策划化学、生物和核恐怖袭击时,再采取“绥靖政策”将导致这个地球发生史无前例的大破坏。
恐怖分子和恐怖主义国家是不会用正式声明的方式透露这些威胁的。因此,在他们发动攻击后再对这些敌人采取行动不是自卫的方式,这等于自杀。为了世界的安全,现在必须解除萨达姆·侯赛因的武装。
在我们满足世界的正义要求之时,我们也将履行我国庄严的承诺。
不像萨达姆·侯赛因那样,我们相信伊拉克人民有权利也有能力享受人类的自由,在这个独裁者离开后,他们就可以在整个中东地区建立一个重要、和平、自治国家的典范。
美国将和其他国家一道,在这一地区推进自由和和平。我们的目标不可能在一夜之间实现,它需要时间。人类自由的力量和对它的渴望体现在每个人身上,体现在每个国家,自由的伟大力量将会化解仇恨和暴力,让每个人都全身心地追求和平。那就是我们的选择。
自由的国家都有义务联合起来同暴力斗争,保卫我们的人民。今晚,正像我们先前所做的那样,美国和我们的盟友愿意承担起这份责任。
晚安,愿上帝继续保佑美国。
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