Bush: Security Progress in Iraq May Enable US Force Reduction
布什称可考虑进一步减少驻伊美军

　 
U.S. President George Bush says enough progress is being made in Iraq to enable the Pentagon to consider further reductions in force levels and cut troop tours.

美国总统布什说，已经在伊拉克取得足够的进展，使得美国国防部可以考虑进一步减少驻伊美军人数和部队驻留的时间了。

President Bush says July has been a month of encouraging news in Iraq.

布什总统说，7月份来自伊拉克的消息令人鼓舞。

"Violence is down to its lowest levels since the spring of 2004 and we are now in our third consecutive month with reduced violence levels holding steady," the president said.

他说：“暴力降低到2004年春季以来的最低程度，而且迄今为止已经有连续三个月暴力活动水平保持稳步下降的趋势。”

The president says the top Americans in Iraq - General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker - acknowledge these advances could be reversed. But he says they report a degree of durability in the gains of recent months.

布什总统说，在伊拉克的美国最高官员彼德雷乌斯将军和克罗克大使承认这些进展有可能逆转，但是，布什总统说，他们报告说，近几个月来的进展有一定程度的持续性。

He says there has been enough progress to prompt the Pentagon to cut troop tours.

他说，已经有了足够的进展，从而国防部可以减短军队的驻留的时间。

"Beginning tomorrow, troops deploying to Iraq will serve 12-month tours instead of 15-month tours," Mr. Bush said. "This will ease the burden on our forces, and it will make life easier for our wonderful military families."

布什总统说：“从明天开始，驻伊拉克美军每次在当地服务的任期将是12个月而不是15个月。这不但减轻美军的负担，也将改善我们的可敬的军人家属的境遇。”

Mr. Bush says it is another sign that the strategy of sending extra troops to Iraq last year has paid off. There are now about 147,000 U.S. troops in Iraq. Combat units are at pre-surge levels, though the elevated number of support troops remains.

布什总统说，这显示去年我们向伊拉克增兵的策略取得了成效。目前约有14万7千名美军驻守伊拉克。战斗部队目前人数保持着在增兵前同样的水平，但是辅助部队人数的增加仍然继续。

"The last of these surge brigades came home this month," he said. "And later this year, General Petraeus will present me his recommendations of future troop levels, including further reductions in our combat forces as conditions permit."

布什总统说：“这些增援部队的最后几个旅于7月回国。今年晚些时候，彼德雷乌斯将军将向我呈交他有关未来部队人数的建议，内容包括当情况许可时进一步减少我们战斗部队人数。”

In an update to the American people, Mr. Bush made specific mention of improvements in the Iraqi security forces. He said Iraqi troops have increased their capacity to handle the nation's security needs.

布什总统在向美国人民作最新情况报告时特别提到伊拉克安全部队的改进。他说，伊拉克部队已经提高了他们在应付本国安全需要方面的能力。

"Iraqi forces now have 192 combat battalions in the fight, and more than 110 of these battalions are taking the lead in combat operations against terrorists and extremists," President Bush said.

布什总统说：“伊拉克部队如今有192个战斗营可投入战斗，而且其中110个以上的营在针对恐怖分子和极端分子的战斗行动中起主导作用。”

Mr. Bush spoke on the original target date for completion of an agreement governing the long-term U.S. presence in Iraq.

布什总统谈到了达成一项制约美军可以在伊拉克继续长期存在的战略框架协议的原定目标日期。

White House officials have been warning for days that the July 31 target would most likely not be met, although there are reports a deal may be near. The president said the negotiations will go on.

白宫官员多天来一直警告说，很可能不能在7月31号这个最后限期前达成这项协议，但是有报导说，协议可能会在近期内达成。布什总统说，有关谈判将继续进行。

"We are also making progress in our discussions with Prime Minister Maliki's government on a strategic framework agreement," the president noted. "This agreement will serve as the foundation for America's presence in Iraq once the United Nations resolution authorizing the multi-national forces there expires on December 31."

Congress is wrapping up its session for the year, and the two main political parties in the United States are gearing up for their national conventions. Iraq is one of the biggest issues in the campaign to choose a new president, and should remain so until the election on November 4.