英语演讲原文：美国总统老布什1991年宣布海湾战争开始

美国总统老布什1991年宣布海湾战争开始GeorgeBush-January16,1991PresidentGeorgeBush:Just2hoursago,allied1airforcesbegananattackonmilitarytargetsinIraqandKuwait.TheseattackscontinueasIspeak.Groundforcesarenotengaged.ThisconflictstartedAugust2ndwhenthedictatorofIraqinvadedasmallandhelplessneighbor.Kuwait--amemberoftheArabLeagueandamemberoftheUnitedNations-wascrushed;itspeople,brutalized.Fivemonthsago,SaddamHusseinstartedthiscruelwaragainstKuwait.Tonight,thebattlehasbeenjoined.Thismilitaryaction,takeninaccordwithUnitedNationsresolutionsandwiththeconsentoftheUnitedStatesCongress,followsmonthsofconstantandvirtuallyendlessdiplomaticactivityonthepartoftheUnitedNations,theUnitedStates,andmany,manyothercountries.ArableaderssoughtwhatbecameknownasanArabsolution,onlytoconcludethatSaddamHusseinwasunwilling2toleaveKuwait.OtherstraveledtoBaghdadinavarietyofeffortstorestorepeaceandjustice.OurSecretaryofState,JamesBaker3,heldanhistoricmeetinginGeneva,onlytobetotallyrebuffed.Thispastweekend,inalast-ditcheffort,theSecretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationswenttotheMiddleEastwithpeaceinhisheart--hissecondsuchmission.AndhecamebackfromBaghdadwithnoprogressatallingettingSaddamHusseintowithdrawfromKuwait.Nowthe28countrieswithforcesintheGulf4areahaveexhausted5allreasonableeffortstoreachapeacefulresolution--havenochoicebuttodriveSaddamfromKuwaitbyforce.Wewillnotfail.AsIreporttoyou,airattacksareunderwayagainstmilitarytargetsinIraq.Wearedetermined6toknockoutSaddamHussein'snuclearbombpotential.Wewillalsodestroyhischemicalweaponsfacilities.MuchofSaddam'sartillery7andtankswillbedestroyed.Ouroperationsaredesignedtobestprotectthelivesofallthecoalition8forcesbytargetingSaddam'svastmilitaryarsenal9.InitialreportsfromGeneralSchwarzkopfarethatouroperationsareproceeding10accordingtoplan.Ourobjectivesareclear:SaddamHussein'sforceswillleaveKuwait.Thelegitimate11governmentofKuwaitwillberestoredtoitsrightfulplace,andKuwaitwillonceagainbefree.IraqwilleventuallycomplywithallrelevantUnitedNationsresolutions,andthen,whenpeaceisrestored,itisourhopethatIraqwillliveasapeacefulandcooperativememberofthefamilyofnations,thusenhancingthesecurityandstabilityoftheGulf.Somemayask:Whyactnow?Whynotwait?Theanswerisclear:Theworldcouldwaitnolonger.Sanctions,thoughhavingsomeeffect,showednosignsofaccomplishingtheirobjective.Sanctionsweretriedforwellover5months,andweandouralliesconcludedthatsanctionsalonewouldnotforceSaddamfromKuwait.Whiletheworldwaited,SaddamHusseinsystematically12raped13,pillaged14,andplundered15atinynation,nothreattohisown.HesubjectedthepeopleofKuwaittounspeakableatrocities16--andamongthosemaimedandmurdered,innocentchildren.Whiletheworldwaited,Saddamsoughttoaddtothechemicalweaponsarsenalhenowpossesses,aninfinitely17moredangerousweaponofmassdestruction--anuclearweapon.Andwhiletheworldwaited,whiletheworldtalkedpeaceandwithdrawal18,SaddamHusseinduginandmovedmassiveforcesintoKuwait.Whiletheworldwaited,whileSaddamstalled,moredamagewasbeingdonetothefragileeconomiesoftheThirdWorld,emergingdemocraciesofEasternEurope,totheentireworld,includingtoourowneconomy.TheUnitedStates,togetherwiththeUnitedNations,exhaustedeverymeansatourdisposaltobringthiscrisistoapeacefulend.However,SaddamclearlyfeltthatbystallingandthreateninganddefyingtheUnitedNations,hecouldweakentheforcesarrayedagainsthim.Whiletheworldwaited,SaddamHusseinmeteveryoverture19ofpeacewithopencontempt.Whiletheworldprayedforpeace,Saddampreparedforwar.IhadhopedthatwhentheUnitedStatesCongress,inhistoricdebate,tookitsresolute20action,SaddamwouldrealizehecouldnotprevailandwouldmoveoutofKuwaitinaccordwiththeUnitedNationresolutions.Hedidnotdothat.Instead,heremainedintransigent,certainthattimewasonhisside.SaddamwaswarnedoverandoveragaintocomplywiththewilloftheUnitedNations:LeaveKuwait,orbedrivenout.Saddamhasarrogantly21rejectedallwarnings.Instead,hetriedtomakethisadisputebetweenIraqandtheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Well,hefailed.Tonight,28nations--countriesfrom5continents,EuropeandAsia,Africa,andtheArabLeague-haveforcesintheGulfareastanding22shouldertoshoulderagainstSaddamHussein.Thesecountrieshadhopedtheuseofforcecouldbeavoided.Regrettably,wenowbelievethatonlyforcewillmakehimleave.Priortoorderingourforcesintobattle,Iinstructedourmilitarycommanderstotakeeverynecessarysteptoprevailasquicklyaspossible,andwiththegreatestdegreeofprotectionpossibleforAmericanandalliedservicemenandwomen.I'vetoldtheAmericanpeoplebeforethatthiswillnotbeanotherVietnam,andIrepeatthisheretonight.Ourtroopswillhavethebestpossiblesupportintheentireworld,andtheywillnotbeaskedtofightwithonehandtiedbehindtheirback.I'mhopefulthatthisfightingwillnotgoonforlongandthatcasualtieswillbeheldtoanabsoluteminimum.Thisisanhistoricmoment.Wehaveinthispastyearmadegreatprogressinendingthelongeraofconflictandcoldwar.Wehavebeforeustheopportunitytoforgeforourselvesandforfuturegenerationsanewworldorder--aworldwheretheruleoflaw,notthelawofthejungle,governstheconductofnations.Whenwearesuccessful--andwewillbe--wehavearealchanceatthisnewworldorder,anorderinwhichacredible23UnitedNationscanuseitspeacekeepingroletofulfill24thepromiseandvisionoftheU.N.'sfounders25.WehavenoargumentwiththepeopleofIraq.Indeed,fortheinnocentscaughtinthisconflict,Iprayfortheirsafety.OurgoalisnottheconquestofIraq.ItistheliberationofKuwait.ItismyhopethatsomehowtheIraqipeoplecan,evennow,convincetheirdictatorthathemustlaydownhisarms,leaveKuwait,andletIraqitselfrejointhefamilyofpeace-lovingnations.ThomasPainewrotemanyyearsago:"Thesearethetimesthattrymen'ssouls.''Thosewell-knownwordsaresoverytruetoday.Butevenasplanesofthemultinational26forcesattackIraq,Iprefertothinkofpeace,notwar.Iamconvincednotonlythatwewillprevailbutthatoutofthehorrorofcombatwillcometherecognitionthatnonationcanstandagainstaworldunited,nonationwillbepermittedtobrutally27assaultitsneighbor.NoPresidentcaneasilycommitoursonsanddaughterstowar.TheyaretheNation'sfinest.Oursisanall-volunteerforce,magnificentlytrained,highlymotivated.Thetroopsknowwhythey'rethere.Andlistentowhattheysay,forthey'vesaiditbetterthananyPresidentorPrimeMinisterevercould.ListentoHollywoodHuddleston,Marine28lancecorporal.Hesays,"Let'sfreethesepeople,sowecangohomeandbefreeagain.''Andhe'sright.TheterriblecrimesandtorturescommittedbySaddam'shenchmenagainsttheinnocentpeopleofKuwaitareanaffront29tomankindandachallengetothefreedomofall.Listentooneofourgreatofficersoutthere,MarineLieutenant30GeneralWalterBoomer.Hesaid:"Therearethingsworthfightingfor.Aworldinwhichbrutality31andlawlessnessareallowedtogouncheckedisn'tthekindofworldwe'regoingtowanttolivein.''ListentoMasterSergeant32J.P.Kendallofthe82ndAirborne:"We'rehereformorethanjustthepriceofagallonofgas.Whatwe'redoingisgoingtochartthefutureoftheworldforthenext100years.It'sbettertodealwiththisguynowthan5yearsfromnow.''Andfinally,weshouldallsitupandlistentoJackieJones,anArmylieutenant,whenshesays,"Ifwelethimgetawaywiththis,whoknowswhat'sgoingtobenext?''IhavecalleduponHollywoodandWalterandJ.P.andJackieandalltheircourageous33comrades-in-armstodowhatmustbedone.Tonight,Americaandtheworldaredeeplygratefultothemandtotheirfamilies.Andletmesaytoeveryonelisteningorwatchingtonight:Whenthetroopswe'vesentinfinishtheirwork,Iamdeterminedtobringthemhomeassoonaspossible.Tonight,asourforcesfight,theyandtheirfamiliesareinourprayers.MayGodblesseachandeveryoneofthem,andthecoalitionforcesatoursideintheGulf,andmayHecontinuetoblessournation,theUnitedStatesofAmerica.GeorgeBush-January16,1991■文章重点单词注释：1alliedadj.协约国的；同盟国的参考例句：BritainwasalliedwiththeUnitedStatesmanytimesinhistory. 历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。Alliedforcessustainedheavylossesinthefirstfewweeksofthecampaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。2unwillingadj.不情愿的参考例句：Thenativeswereunwillingtobebentbycolonialpower. 土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。Histightfistedemployerwasunwillingtogivehimaraise. 他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。3bakern.面包师参考例句：Thebakerbakeshisbreadinthebakery. 面包师在面包房内烤面包。Thebakerfrostedthecakewithamixtureofsugarandwhitesofeggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。4gulfn.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂参考例句：Thegulfbetweenthetwoleaderscannotbebridged. 两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。Thereisagulfbetweenthetwocities. 这两座城市间有个海湾。5exhaustedadj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的参考例句：Itwasalonghaulhomeandwearrivedexhausted. 搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。Jennywasexhaustedbythehustleofcitylife. 珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。6determinedadj.坚定的；有决心的参考例句：IhavedeterminedongoingtoTibetaftergraduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏Hedeterminedtoviewtheroomsbehindtheoffice.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。7artilleryn.（军）火炮，大炮；炮兵（部队）参考例句：Thisisaheavyartillerypiece.这是一门重炮。Theartilleryhasmorefirepowerthantheinfantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。8coalitionn.结合体，同盟，结合，联合参考例句：Theseveralpartiesformedacoalition. 这几个政党组成了政治联盟。Coalitionforcestakegreatcaretoavoidciviliancasualties. 联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。9arsenaln.兵工厂，军械库参考例句：Eventheworkersatthearsenalhavegotasecretorganization. 兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。Wemustbethegreatarsenalofdemocracy. 我们必须成为民主的大军火库。proceedingn.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报参考例句：ThistrainisnowproceedingfromParistoLondon. 这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。Theworkisproceedingbriskly. 工作很有生气地进展着。legitimateadj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法参考例句：Sicknessisalegitimatereasonforaskingforleave. 生病是请假的一个正当的理由。That'saperfectlylegitimatefear. 怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。systematicallyadv.有系统地参考例句：Thisgovernmenthassystematicallyrundownpublicservicessinceittookoffice.这一屆政府自上台以来系统地削减了公共服务。Therainforestisbeingsystematicallydestroyed. 雨林正被系统地毀灭。rapedv.以暴力夺取，强夺(rape的过去式和过去分词)；强奸参考例句：Ayoungwomanwasbrutallyrapedinherownhome. 一名年轻女子在自己家中惨遭强暴。来自辞典例句Wegotsticktogether,orwewillbehavingourwomenraped. 我们得团结一致，不然我们的妻女就会遭到蹂躏。来自辞典例句pillagedv.抢劫，掠夺（pillage的过去式和过去分词）参考例句：TheyaretobepillagedandterrorisedinHitler'sfuryandrevenge. 在希特勒的狂怒和报复下，他们还遭到掠夺和恐怖统治。来自辞典例句Theyvillageswerepillagedandtheircropsdestroyed. 他们的村子被抢，他们的庄稼被毁。来自辞典例句15plundered掠夺，抢劫（plunder的过去式和过去分词）参考例句：Manyofourculturaltreasureshavebeenplunderedbyimperialists. 我国许多珍贵文物被帝国主义掠走了。Theimperialistsplunderedmanyvaluableworksofart. 帝国主义列强掠夺了许多珍贵的艺术品。16atrocitiesn.邪恶，暴行（atrocity的名词复数）；滔天大罪参考例句：Theywereguiltyofthemostbarbarousandinhumanatrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。来自《简明英汉词典》Theenemy'satrocitiesmadeoneboilwithanger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。来自《现代汉英综合大词典》17infinitelyadv.无限地，无穷地参考例句：Thereisaninfinitelybrightfutureaheadofus. 我们有无限光明的前途。Theuniverseisinfinitelylarge.宇宙是无限大的。18withdrawaln.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销参考例句：Thepolicewereforcedtomakeatacticalwithdrawal. 警方被迫进行战术撤退。Theyinsisteduponawithdrawalofthestatementandapublicapology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。19overturen.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉参考例句：Theoperawasprecededbyashortoverture. 这部歌剧开始前有一段简短的序曲。Hisovertureledtonothing. 他的提议没有得到什么结果。20resoluteadj.坚决的，果敢的参考例句：Hewasresoluteincarryingouthisplan.他坚决地实行他的计划。TheEgyptiansofferedresoluteresistancetotheaggressors. 埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。21arrogantlyadv.傲慢地参考例句：Theconsularporterstrodearrogantlyaheadwithhislightswinging. 领事馆的门房提着摇来晃去的灯，在前面大摇大摆地走着。Itmadehisgreatnoseprotrudemorearrogantly. 这就使得他的大鼻子更加傲慢地翘起来。22standingn.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的参考例句：Aftertheearthquakeonlyafewhouseswereleftstanding. 地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。They'restandingoutagainstanychangeinthelaw. 他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。23credibleadj.可信任的，可靠的参考例句：Thenewsreportishardlycredible. 这则新闻报道令人难以置信。Isthereacrediblealternativetothenucleardeterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？24fulfillvt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意参考例句：Ifyoumakeapromiseyoushouldfulfillit. 如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。Thiscompanyshouldbeabletofulfillourrequirements. 这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。25foundersn.创始人（founder的名词复数）参考例句：Hewasoneofthefoundersoftheuniver