1) coalition forces  联军

2) disarm [dis5B:m] vt.解除武装

3) grave [^reiv] adj.严重的

4) undermine [7QndE5main] v.削弱

5) wage [weidV] v.发动

6) concerted [kEn5sE:tid] adj.协调的，一致的

7) logistics [lE5dVistiks] n.后勤

8) civilian [si5viljEn] n.平民

9) atrocity [E5trCsiti] n.残暴，暴行

10) sacrifice [5sAkrifais] n.牺牲

11) at the mercy of  受……的支配

12) duration [djuE5reiFEn] n.持续期间

13) assure [E5FuE] vt.确保，保证

布什对伊宣战讲话

我的同胞们，现在，美国及其盟军正处于解除伊拉克武装、解放伊拉克人民、使世界远离危险的军事行动的初步阶段。

依照我的命令，盟军已经有选择地对一些重要的军事目标进行打击，以削弱萨达姆发动战争的能力。一场广泛的、通力合作的战争已经开始了。35个国家已经给予美国重要的支持——从同意美国使用他们的海军和空军基地，到协助美国的情报机构和后勤部门，再到允许美国部署军队。这个联盟的每一个国家都义无返顾地承担起责任，并为参与到共同防御之中而倍感骄傲。

现在，对于部署在中东的美国武装力量的每一位成员来说，动荡世界的和平以及被压迫人民的希望都寄托在了你们身上。这是对你们的充分信任。

你们对抗的敌人将会领教你们的能力和勇敢，你们解放的民众将目睹美国军队令人起敬的良好精神风貌。在这场战争中，美国对付的是一个无视战争规则和道德规范的敌人。萨达姆·侯塞因将伊拉克军队和军事装备部署在平民区，企图将无辜百姓和儿童作为他们军队的挡箭牌——这是萨达姆对伊拉克人民犯下的最后暴行。

我想让美国及全世界知道，盟军将尽其所能来避免伤及无辜。这是一场在一个和加利福尼亚州一样大的、地形险恶的国家进行的战争，因此持续时间可能比预期的要长，困难要大。我们只有坚定不移地履行我们的承诺，才能够帮助伊拉克建立一个团结、稳定、自由的国家。

我们是怀着对伊拉克人民以及他们伟大文明和宗教信仰的尊敬来到伊拉克的。我们在伊拉克没有任何企图，我们只想消灭威胁，帮助伊拉克人民重掌国家大权。

　　我知道，我们的军属正在为参战的军人们祈祷，希望他们能够尽快平安回国。而数以万计的美国人也在与你们一道为你们深爱的家人和无辜人民的安全而祈祷。你们做出的牺牲赢得了美国人民的感激和尊敬。有一点，你们可以明确，我们的军队将在完成他们的使命后迅速返回。

　　我们的国家本不愿卷入这场战争——然而，我们的目标是明确的。美国及其盟国的人民不能生活在拥有大规模杀伤性武器的非法政权的威胁之下。我们的陆军、空军、海军以及海岸警卫队、海军陆战队现在就去迎接威胁的挑战，是为了今后不会出现消防队员、警察和医务人员在我们的城市里面为威胁的降临而忙碌的场面。

　　战争已经来临，致命性的打击是缩短战期的唯一途径。我向你们保证，这不会是一次半途而废的行动，我们可以接受的唯一结果就是胜利。

　　我的同胞们，我们国家和全世界面临的危险将被消除。我们将会度过这个危险时期，继续我们的和平事业。我们将为自由而战。我们将为其他国家带去和平，我们将所向披靡。

　　愿上帝保佑美国和所有保卫美国的人们。

President Bush Addresses the Nation

My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and ¹⁾coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to ²⁾disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from ³⁾grave danger.

On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to ⁴⁾undermine Saddam Hussein's ability to ⁵⁾wage war. These are opening stages of what will be a broad and ⁶⁾concerted campaign. More than 35 countries are giving crucial support -- from the use of naval and air bases, to help with intelligence and ⁷⁾logistics, to the deployment of combat units. Every nation in this coalition has chosen to bear the duty and share the honor of serving in our common defense.

To all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces now in the Middle East, the peace of a troubled world and the hopes of an oppressed people now depend on you. That trust is well placed.

The enemies you confront will come to know your skill and bravery. The people you liberate will witness the honorable and decent spirit of the American military. In this conflict, America faces an enemy who has no regard for conventions of war or rules of morality. Saddam Hussein has placed Iraqi troops and equipment in ⁸⁾civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women and children as shields for his own military -- a final ⁹⁾atrocity against his people.

I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm. A campaign on the harsh terrain of a nation as large as California could be longer and more difficult than some predict. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable and free country will require our sustained commitment.

We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people.

I know that the families of our military are praying that all those who serve will return safely and soon. Millions of Americans are praying with you for the safety of your loved ones and for the protection of the innocent. For your ¹⁰⁾sacrifice, you have the gratitude and respect of the American people. And you can know that our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done.

Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live ¹¹⁾at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. We will meet that threat now, with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with armies of fire fighters and police and doctors on the streets of our cities.

Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its ¹²⁾duration is to apply decisive force. And I ¹³⁾assure you, this will not be a campaign of half measures, and we will accept no outcome but victory.

My fellow citizens, the dangers to our country and the world will be overcome. We will pass through this time of peril and carry on the work of peace. We will defend our freedom. We will bring freedom to others and we will prevail.

May God bless our country and all who defend her.