It began as a standard day at the White House, President Donald Trump taking to Twitter when he issued a bombshell.
这是白宫平常的一天,这天总统特朗普在推特上发布了惊人的消息。
We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there, he wrote, setting off a flurry of activity.
他写道我们打败了叙利亚的“伊斯兰国”组织,这也是我们驻军的唯一原因,由此也引发了一系列事件。
Vice President Mike Pence, arriving at the Pentagon to meet with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, refusing to take questions.
副总统麦克·彭斯抵达五角大楼会见国防部长吉姆·马蒂斯,并决绝对此作出回应。
Later, the Pentagon finally confirming US troops were packing up and starting to head home.
随后,五角大楼最终证实了美军准备回家的消息。
It sent shockwaves through Capitol Hill even among the president's fellow Republicans.
此消息震惊了国会,甚至连共和党都感到很意外。
First thing I want to do is find out what the hell happened.
我要先知道到底发生了什么。
Well I don't know who advised that this decision be made but it's a terrible mistake.
我不知道是谁提出的这个建议,但这个建议很糟糕。
Officials say some of the 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria are already on their way home.
官方称大约有两千名叙利亚美军已在回家的路上。
But they are leaving a complicated battlefield, one on which they faced not only Islamic State,
但他们离开的是一片复杂的战场,他们面对的不仅是“伊斯兰国”,
but had to contend with Russian troops and forces loyal to Iran, sometimes working against IS
还有俄罗斯部队,以及效忠于伊朗的部队,他们有时对抗“伊斯兰国”,
and always in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who may now have more freedom to challenge U.S. interests.
并支持叙利亚总统阿萨德,如今他有更多自由来对抗美国利益。
If U.S. troops are removed, that deterrence variable is removed as well.
如果美军离开了,那么震慑的可变情况也就没有了。
But as recently as last week, top US officials were warning Islamic State was far from done,
但就在上周,最高美军官员警告称“伊斯兰国”还远没有消灭,
2,000 hardened fighters clinging to the last sliver of their self-proclaimed caliphate in the town of Hajin.
在哈金镇,两千名硬汉坚持守住最后一片自称为“伊斯兰国”领地的土地。
Obviously, it would be reckless if we were just to say the physical caliphate is defeated, so we can just leave now.
很明显,如果我们现在说我们消灭了所有“伊斯兰国”领地,我们可以离开了,那就太草率了。
White House officials say wiping out that last remnant
白宫官员称消灭最后一片“伊斯兰国”领地
will now fall to US-partner forces like the SDF, a group of mostly Kurdish militias.
的任务将落到美军伙伴部队的身上,比如叙利亚民主军,这是一只主要由库尔德民兵组成的部队。
Only there are questions as to whether they will continue to benefit from US and coalition air power,
他们是否还会继续受益于美军或是盟军空军力量,这依然是个问题,
and sources tell VOA many may abandon the frontlines to brace for a possible attack from Turkey, a longtime adversary of the Kurds.
有消息对VOA表示,许多部队或将放弃前线,而将精力转向土耳其有可能发起的进攻,土耳其长期以来都反对库尔德。
Yet none of this fazes President Trump, who says when it comes to IS, it is mission accomplished.
但这些都没有让特朗普担忧,他称美国的任务已经完成。
We've beaten them and we've beaten them badly.
我们已经挫败了他们。
We've taken back the land and now it's time for our troops to come back home.
我们已经收复了失地,如今军队是时候回家了。
Jeff Seldin VOA news, Washington.
VOA新闻,杰夫·赛尔丁华盛顿报道。