VOA慢速英语:Iraq War Ends, an Uncertain Future Begins

This week, the war in Iraq officially ended.
这个星期，伊拉克战争正式结束了。

American troops lowered their command's flag on Thursday in a ceremonial close to nearly nine years of conflict. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke at the ceremony at a heavily protected area of an airport in Baghdad.
美国军队于周四的一次仪式上降下了军旗，结束将近9年冲突。美国国防部长Leon Panetta在巴格达机场一片严密保护的区之中的仪式上发言。

LEON PANETTA: "To be sure, the cost was high -- the blood and treasure of the United States and also for the Iraqi people. But those lives have not been lost in vain. They gave birth to an independent, free and sovereign Iraq."
LEON PANETTA：“可以肯定的是，这场战争代价很高昂，美国付出了生命和金钱的代价，伊拉克人民也是如此。但是，那些生命没有白白牺牲。他们带来了一个独立、自由和主权的伊拉克。”

Tens of thousands of Iraqis died in the military campaign known as Operation New Dawn. So did more than four thousand Americans. The American-led invasion quickly ousted Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. But violence between competing groups grew and pushed Iraq toward civil war. The violence has decreased sharply. But insurgents, some of them operating with Iranian support, continue attacks.
数以万计的伊拉克人在这次被称为“新黎明行动”的军事行动中死亡，还包括超过4千名美国人死亡。美国领导的入侵行动很快把伊拉克前统治者萨达姆赶下了台。但各方之间的暴力增加，并推动伊拉克走向内战。暴力事件已经急剧下降。但是，一些叛乱分子在伊朗的支持下运作，并继续发动袭击。

Some American officials wanted to keep several thousand troops in Iraq after December thirty-first. The two countries agreed to that withdrawal date three years ago, when George W. Bush was still president. But the Obama administration failed to reach an agreement with Iraq on legal protection for American troops. A small number of troops will remain, mainly to protect diplomats.
一些美国官员希望12月31日之后能有数千名美军驻守伊拉克。三年前，美伊两国达成了这一撤军日期，当时小布什仍是总统。但奥巴马政府未能与伊拉克就美军的法律保护达成协议。少数部队仍然留在伊拉克，主要是为了保护外交官。

This week, some Iraqis celebrated the withdrawal of American troops. Others expressed worry, including Mohhamed Abbad Hussein, who is recovering from a bomb explosion.
这个星期，一些伊拉克人庆祝美军撤出。另一些人则表示担心，其中就包括刚从炸弹爆炸中恢复过来的Mohhamed Abbad Hussein。

ABBAD HUSSEIN (IN ARABIC): "It's never going to end. People are going to continue to suffer. As long as there is a political crisis, it's never going to end."
ABBAD HUSSEIN（阿拉伯语）：“它永远不会结束，人们还要继续受苦。只要有一个政治危机存在，它就永远不会结束。”

Murtadha Homadi, a guard with a local security company, had mixed feelings about the war.
Murtadha Homadi是当地一家保安公司的一名警卫，这场战争让他百感交集。

MURTADHA HOMADI (IN ARABIC): "We were really happy that Saddam Hussein fell. But, after that, many bad things happened, especially when al-Qaida started setting off bomb."
MURTADHA HOMADI（阿拉伯文）：“萨达姆下台，我们真的非常高兴。但是在这之后发生了许多不好的事情，尤其是当基地组织开始引爆炸弹。”

Eleven-year-old Gohfran Yassir of Baghdad says she is always afraid.
在巴格达11岁的Gohfran Yassir说她总是害怕。

GOHFRAN YASSIR: "I am scared that a bomb will go off, explosions and we will die, or we will be kidnapped or killed."
GOHFRAN YASSIR：“我很害怕炸弹会爆炸，我们会被炸死，或者会被绑架或杀害。”

Many Iraqis worry that their country will fail if it is controlled only by politicians and religious militias. Human rights activist Sundus Abass says Iraq's future may depend more on the will of its people.
许多伊拉克人担心如果伊拉克由政客和宗教武装来控制，他们的国家将会失败。人权活动家Sundus Abass称，伊拉克的未来可能更多取决于人民的意志。

SUNDUS ABASS: "I am like other Iraqis, I am worried about this. I am worried. Honestly yes, I am worried. Because there is no, nothing who can tell us that it will be fine after the Americans troops withdraw from Iraq. I think yes there will be more violence in Iraq."
SUNDUS ABASS：“我像其他伊拉克人一样担心这个。老实说，我很担心。因为没有任何人可以告诉我们，美军从伊拉克撤离后一切都会好的。是的，我认为伊拉克会发生更多的暴力。”

The invasion took place in March of two thousand three. Soldiers from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, were among the first to enter Iraq. They also helped lead the troop increase in two thousand seven. This week, President Obama visited Fort Bragg to thank returning troops.
入侵行动发生在2003年3月。来自北卡罗莱纳州布拉格堡的士兵们是最先进入伊拉克人员的一部分。2007年他们还协助引导增兵。本周，奥巴马总统访问布拉格堡向返回中的部队致谢。

BARACK OBAMA: "So as your commander in chief, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I am proud to finally say these two words, and I know your families agree:  Welcome home. [Cheers] "
BARACK OBAMA：“因此，作为你们的总司令，也代表一个感恩的国家，我终于可以自豪的向你们说出你们家人也会有同感的话：欢迎回家。[欢呼声]”

Mr. Obama spoke of the sacrifices made by service members.
奥巴马先生谈到了服役人员所做出的牺牲。

BARACK OBAMA: "More than 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq -- 1.5 million. Over thirty thousand Americans have been wounded. Those are only the wounds that show. Nearly forty-five hundred Americans made the ultimate sacrifice."
BARACK OBAMA：“超过150万美国人曾在伊拉克服役，超过3万美国人受伤。这还只是受伤的，近4500名美国人牺牲了。”

Mr. Obama called the results of the war "an extraordinary achievement."
奥巴马先生称这一战争结果为“非凡成就。”
 
BARACK OBAMA: "Iraq is not a perfect place. It has many challenges ahead. But we are leaving behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people."
BARACK OBAMA：“伊拉克不是一个完美的地方，它面临许多挑战。但我们留下了一个具有主权，稳定和自力更生的伊拉克，以及一个人民选出来的代议制政府。”