All right. Good morning. In a few moments, I’ll be joining members of our armed forces, their families, and veterans for the Memorial Day observance at Arlington. There, and across our nation, we’ll pause to honor all those who’ve given their last full measure of devotion in defense of our country. Theirs was the ultimate sacrifice, but it is one that every man and woman who wears America’s uniform is prepared to make -- so that we can live free. 好的。早上好。再过一会儿，我将与我们的武装部队成员、他们的家属和退伍军人一起，参加在阿灵顿举行的阵亡将士纪念日仪式。在那里，在全国各地，我们将停下来致敬所有那些为保卫国家而献出生命的人。他们做出了最终的牺牲，但每一位身穿美国军装的男女都已做好准备，随时可能做出同样的牺牲——这样我们才能自由地生活。
The men and women of our armed forces are the best our nation has to offer, and they deserve nothing but the absolute best in return. And that includes leaders who will guide them, and support their families, with wisdom and strength and compassion. And that’s what I expect as Commander-in-Chief as we work to keep our nation secure and our military the finest in the world. I found those qualities in Leon Panetta, who I announced last month as my choice to succeed our outstanding Secretary of Defense, Bob Gates, who I thank for joining us today. 我们武装部队的男女军人是我们国家最优秀的代表，他们理应得到最好的回报。这包括用智慧、力量和同情心来引导他们、支持他们家属的领导者。作为三军统帅，这也是我对他们的期望，我们将努力保障国家安全，使我们的军队成为世界上最精锐的武装力量。我在莱昂·帕内塔身上发现了这些品质，上个月我宣布选择他接替我们杰出的国防部长罗伯特·盖茨，感谢盖茨今天出席。
And I found these qualities in the leaders who will complete our team at the Pentagon and whom I’m proud to announce today -- General Martin Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral James Winnefeld as the Vice Chairman, and to succeed General Dempsey as Chief of Staff of the Army, General Ray Odierno. 我也在即将完成五角大楼团队的领导者身上发现了这些品质，今天我荣幸地宣布他们的人选——马丁·邓普西将军出任参谋长联席会议主席，詹姆斯·温内弗尔德海军上将出任副主席，接替邓普西将军出任陆军参谋长的是雷·奥迪尔诺将军。
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the principal military advisor to me and my national security team, including the Secretary of Defense. Since taking office, I’ve been very grateful for the leadership of the current Chairman, Admiral Mike Mullen, and the Vice Chairman, General Jim “Hoss” Cartwright. These two men have served our nation with distinction for decades, and I look forward to paying tribute to their lives of service in the months ahead. 参谋长联席会议主席是我及包括国防部长在内的国家安全团队的首席军事顾问。自就任以来，我一直非常感谢现任主席迈克·马伦海军上将和副主席吉姆·"霍斯"·卡特赖特将军的领导。这两位杰出人士已为国效力数十年，我期待在未来的几个月里致敬他们一生的服务。
Today, I’ll simply say that, like President Bush before me, I’ve deeply valued Mike’s professional steadiness and his personal integrity. On his watch, our military forces have excelled across the whole spectrum of missions, from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan to relief efforts after the Haiti earthquake. He’s helped revitalize NATO, reset our relations with Russia, and steer our relationship with Pakistan and China. 今天，我只想说，和之前的布什总统一样，我深深珍视迈克的专业稳健和个人操守。在他的任期内，我们的军事力量在各类任务中表现出色，从伊拉克和阿富汗的战斗行动到海地地震后的救援工作。他帮助振兴了北约，重启了与俄罗斯的关系，并引导了与巴基斯坦和中国的关系。
And I believe that history will also record Mike Mullen as the Chairman who said what he believed was right and declared that no one in uniform should ever have to sacrifice their integrity to serve their country. 我也相信，历史将铭记迈克·马伦是那位说出自己认为正确之事的主席，他宣告穿军装的人不应为了报效国家而牺牲自己的操守。
I’ve also benefited enormously from the advice and counsel of Hoss Cartwright. Hoss is that rare combination of technical expert -- from cyber to missile defense -- and strategic thinker, whether it was updating our nuclear posture or preparing our military for 21st-century missions. I’ll always be personally grateful to Hoss for his friendship and partnership. And as he concludes four decades of service in the Marine Corps that he loves, he can do so knowing that our nation is more secure, and our military is stronger, because of his remarkable career. 我也从霍斯·卡特赖特的建议和咨询中获益良多。霍斯是一位罕见的将技术专长——从网络安全到导弹防御——与战略思维相结合的人才，无论是更新核姿态还是为军队准备21世纪任务。我个人将永远感激霍斯的友谊与合作。在他结束热爱的海军陆战队四十年服役生涯之际，他可以自豪地知道，正是因为他卓越的职业生涯，我们的国家更加安全，军队更加强大。
And I know that Michelle joins me in saluting Deborah Mullen and Sandee Cartwright for their decades of extraordinary service, especially as champions of our inspiring military families. 我也知道米歇尔与我一同致敬德博拉·马伦和桑迪·卡特赖特数十年来非凡的服务，特别是作为令人敬佩的军人家庭的倡导者。
With the advice and consent of the Senate, it is our hope and expectation that Leon Panetta will soon take the reigns as Secretary of Defense. General Cartwright’s term ends this summer; Admiral Mullen’s term ends this fall. I’m announcing my choice for their successors today because it’s essential that this transition be seamless and that we stay focused on the urgent national security challenges before us. And I want to thank Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Lynn for the continuity that he’ll provide during this transition. 在参议院的咨询和同意下，我们希望并期待莱昂·帕内塔很快接管国防部长一职。卡特赖特将军的任期今夏结束，马伦海军上将的任期今秋结束。我今天宣布继任者人选，是因为这种过渡必须无缝衔接，我们必须专注于面前紧迫的国家安全挑战。我还要感谢国防部副部长比尔·林恩在过渡期间提供的连续性保障。
With nearly 40 years in uniform, Martin Dempsey is one of our nation’s most respected -- and combat-tested --generals. In Iraq, he led our soldiers against a brutal insurgency. Having trained Iraqi forces, he knows that nations must ultimately take responsibility for their own security. Having served as acting commander of Central Command, he understands that in Iraq and Afghanistan security gains and political progress must go hand in hand. 拥有近四十年军旅生涯的马丁·邓普西是我国最受尊敬、经过实战检验的将军之一。在伊拉克，他率领我们的士兵对抗残酷的叛乱活动。通过训练伊拉克部队，他深知各国最终必须为自己的安全承担责任。作为中央司令部代理司令，他深刻理解在伊拉克和阿富汗，安全成果和政治进步必须齐头并进。
And just as he challenged the Army to embrace new doctrine and tactics, I expect him to push all our forces to continue adapting and innovating to be ready for the missions of today and tomorrow. 正如他推动陆军拥抱新学说和战术一样，我期待他推动所有部队持续适应和创新，为今天和明天的任务做好准备。
I was proud to nominate Marty as Army Chief of Staff, and I realized he only assumed that position last month. Marty, your tenure as Chief may go down as one of the shortest in Army history. But it’s your lifetime of accomplishment that brings us here today. And I thank you for your willingness to take on this new assignment, along with your wife Deanie and your three children, all of whom have served in the Army. 我很荣幸提名马蒂为陆军参谋长，我知道他上个月才就任该职位。马蒂，你作为参谋长的任期可能成为陆军历史上最短之一。但正是你一生的成就让我们今天齐聚于此。感谢你愿意承担这项新任务，也感谢你的妻子迪妮和你的三个孩子，他们都在陆军服役过。
Today, I want every one of our men and women in uniform to hear the words that you spoke to your soldiers on your first day as Chief, because it’s our shared message to all who serve, especially our troops in harm’s way: “We will provide whatever it takes to achieve our objectives in the current fight.” 今天，我希望每一位身穿军装的男女都能听到你就任参谋长首日对士兵们说的话，因为这是我们向所有服役人员，特别是身处险境的部队传达的共同信息："我们将提供一切必要条件，以实现当前战斗中的目标。"
As Vice Chairman, Admiral Sandy Winnefeld will draw on more than 30 years of distinguished service. Under his command, fighters from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise pounded Taliban positions in the weeks after 9/11 and his carrier strike group played a critical role in air operations over Iraq. Having served as a NATO commander, Sandy is well known to our allies. Having served on the Joint Staff, he is known and trusted here at the White House. 作为副主席，桑迪·温内弗尔德海军上将将凭借三十多年杰出的服役经历。在他的指挥下，"企业号"航空母舰的战斗机在9·11事件后的几周内猛击了塔利班阵地，他的航母打击群在伊拉克上空的空中行动中发挥了关键作用。曾任北约指挥官的桑迪为我们的盟友所熟知。曾在参谋长联席会议工作的他，在白宫也广为人知并深受信任。
Most recently, as head of Northern Command, Sandy’s been responsible for the defense of our homeland and support to states and communities in times of crisis, such as the recent tornadoes and the floods along the Mississippi. He’s supported our Mexican partners in their fight against the cartels and our Japanese allies in the response to their nuclear emergency. So Sandy knows that we have to be prepared for the full range of challenges. Sandy, I thank you and your wife Mary and your two sons for your continued service. 最近，作为北方司令部司令，桑迪负责国土防御，并在危机时刻为各州和社区提供支持，例如近期的龙卷风和密西西比河沿岸的洪水。他支持墨西哥合作伙伴打击贩毒集团，并支持日本盟友应对核紧急事件。桑迪深知我们必须为全方位的挑战做好准备。桑迪，我感谢你和你的妻子玛丽及两个儿子持续的奉献。
I’ve selected General Dempsey and Admiral Winnefeld because of their record -- and potential -- as individuals. But I’ve also selected them because they will make an extraordinary team -- despite their competing loyalties to Army and Navy. Between them, they bring deep experience in virtually every domain -- land, air, space, sea, cyber. Both of them have the respect and the trust of our troops on the frontlines, our friends in Congress, and allies and partners abroad. And both of them have my full confidence. 我选择邓普西将军和温内弗尔德海军上将，是因为他们作为个人的履历和潜力。但我选择他们，也是因为他们将组成一支非凡的团队——尽管他们对陆军和海军各有忠诚。他们二人合计，在几乎所有领域——陆、空、太空、海、网络——都拥有深厚经验。两人都赢得了前线部队、国会同仁以及海外盟友和伙伴的尊重与信任。两人也都有我的充分信任。
They both have something else. For the first time, the Chairman and Vice Chairman will have the experience of leading combat operations in the years since 9/11. Two moments in particular speak to this leadership. On the morning of September 11, 2001, the Enterprise was returning home from the Persian Gulf when word came of the attacks. Rather than wait for orders, Sandy took the initiative, reversed course, and put his ship and aircraft within range of Afghanistan by the next morning, setting the stage for the strikes that followed. 他们二人还有另一个共同点。参谋长联席会议主席和副主席将首次由在9·11事件后领导过作战行动的人担任。有两个特别时刻彰显了这种领导力。2001年9月11日早晨，"企业号"正从波斯湾返航时，传来了遇袭的消息。桑迪没有等待命令，而是主动采取行动，掉转航向，到第二天早晨便将舰船和战机调至可打击阿富汗的范围，为随后的空袭奠定了基础。
A few years later, as Marty’s 1st Armored Division was rotating out of Iraq, he suddenly got new orders. He turned his division around, shifted to new parts of Iraq, and defeated an insurgent uprising -- a remarkable maneuver that has entered the annals of Army history. 几年后，当马蒂的第一装甲师正从伊拉克轮换撤离时，他突然接到了新命令。他掉转师团方向，转移至伊拉克新的区域，击败了一场叛乱起义——这一非凡的机动行动已载入陆军史册。
And while I know that folks across the Army are proud to see one of their own selected as Chairman, I also know this means losing their new Chief in a time of war. And that’s why, for the next Army Chief of Staff, I’m nominating one of the Army’s most accomplished soldiers -- and one of the tallest -- General Ray Odierno. 虽然我知道陆军上下都为看到自己人被选为主席而骄傲，但我也知道这意味着在战争时期失去了新任参谋长。正因如此，对于下一任陆军参谋长，我提名陆军中最杰出的军人之一——也是最高的之一——雷·奥迪尔诺将军。
In three pivotal deployments to Iraq, he commanded the troops that captured Saddam Hussein, partnered with General Petraeus to help bring down the violence, and then transferred responsibility to Iraqi forces, allowing us to remove some 100,000 American troops and end our combat mission. 在三次关键的伊拉克部署中，他指挥部队抓获了萨达姆·侯赛因，与彼得雷乌斯将军合作帮助降低暴力水平，随后将责任移交给伊拉克部队，使我们得以撤回约十万名美军并结束战斗任务。
After years on the frontlines, Ray understands what the Army must do -- to prevail in today’s wars, to prepare for the future, and to preserve the readiness of the soldiers and families who are the strength of America’s families. And we’re fortunate that Ray’s dedication to our soldiers is shared by his wife Linda and their family, including their son Tony, a combat veteran and advocate for his fellow wounded warriors. 在前线多年后，雷深知陆军必须做什么——赢得当今战争、为未来做准备、保持士兵和家属的战备状态，他们正是美国军人家庭的力量所在。我们也很幸运，雷对士兵的奉献精神得到了妻子琳达和整个家庭的共鸣，包括他们的儿子托尼——一名战斗老兵，也是受伤战友的倡导者。
I urge our friends in the Senate to confirm these outstanding individuals as swiftly as possible. They’re innovative, flexible, focused on the future, and deeply devoted to our troops and their families. General Dempsey, Admiral Winnefeld, we have much to do -- from bringing our troops home from Iraq to beginning to reduce our forces in Afghanistan this summer and transitioning to Afghan lead; from defeating al Qaeda to protecting the Libyan people. All this, even as we make difficult budget decisions while keeping our military the finest fighting force in the world. 我敦促参议院的朋友们尽快确认这些杰出人选。他们富有创新精神、灵活应变、着眼未来，并对我们的军队和家属深怀关爱。邓普西将军、温内弗尔德海军上将，我们有很多工作要做——从让驻伊拉克部队回国，到今年夏天开始减少驻阿富汗兵力并过渡到由阿富汗主导；从击败基地组织到保护利比亚人民。这一切甚至要在做出艰难预算决策的同时完成，同时保持我们的军队为世界上最精锐的战斗力量。
Above all, as Commander-in-Chief, I’ll be looking to you, and the rest of the Joint Chiefs, for what I value most in my advisors -- your honest, unvarnished advice, and the full range of options, especially when it comes to our most solemn obligation: protecting the lives of our brave men and women in uniform. We have no greater responsibility, as we are reminded today when we honor all those who sacrificed so that we can enjoy the blessings of freedom. 最重要的是，作为三军统帅，我将依靠你们及参谋长联席会议其他成员，提供我最看重的顾问品质——你们诚实无饰的建议和全方位的选择方案，尤其是在涉及我们最庄严的义务时：保护身穿军装的勇敢男女的生命。我们没有比这更大的责任，正如今天我们致敬所有为让我们享受自由之福而牺牲的人时所铭记的那样。
So, again, to Marty, Sandy, and Ray, as well as your families, thank you for your patriotic service and your readiness to lead once more. Thank you very much, everybody. 最后，再次向马蒂、桑迪和雷，以及你们的家人，感谢你们的爱国服务和再次挺身而出担当领导的意愿。非常感谢大家。