Ten days ago, the world watched in horror as men, women and children were massacred in Syria in the worst chemical weapons attack of the 21st century. Yesterday the United States presented a powerful case that the Syrian government was responsible for this attack on its own people. 十天前，世界震惊地目睹了叙利亚的男人、女人和儿童在本世纪最严重的一次化学武器袭击中惨遭屠杀。昨天，美国提出了有力证据，表明叙利亚政府应对这场针对本国人民的袭击负责。
Our intelligence shows the Assad regime and its forces preparing to use chemical weapons, launching rockets in the highly populated suburbs of Damascus, and acknowledging that a chemical weapons attack took place. And all of this corroborates what the world can plainly see -- hospitals overflowing with victims; terrible images of the dead. All told, well over 1,000 people were murdered. Several hundred of them were children -- young girls and boys gassed to death by their own government. 我们的情报显示，阿萨德政权及其部队准备使用化学武器，向人口密集的大马士革郊区发射火箭弹，并承认发生了化学武器袭击。这一切也与世人亲眼所见相印证：医院里挤满了受害者，死者的影像惨不忍睹。总共有一千多人遭到杀害，其中数百人是儿童，是被自己国家的政府用毒气夺去生命的男孩和女孩。
This attack is an assault on human dignity. It also presents a serious danger to our national security. It risks making a mockery of the global prohibition on the use of chemical weapons. It endangers our friends and our partners along Syria's borders, including Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. It could lead to escalating use of chemical weapons, or their proliferation to terrorist groups who would do our people harm. 这场袭击践踏了人的尊严，也对我们的国家安全构成严重威胁。它可能使全球禁止使用化学武器的规定沦为一纸空文，危及叙利亚边境附近的朋友和伙伴，包括以色列、约旦、土耳其、黎巴嫩和伊拉克。它还可能导致化学武器的使用不断升级，或使这些武器流入会伤害我国人民的恐怖组织手中。
In a world with many dangers, this menace must be confronted. 在这个危机四伏的世界里，我们必须正视这一威胁。
Now, after careful deliberation, I have decided that the United States should take military action against Syrian regime targets. This would not be an open-ended intervention. We would not put boots on the ground. Instead, our action would be designed to be limited in duration and scope. But I'm confident we can hold the Assad regime accountable for their use of chemical weapons, deter this kind of behavior, and degrade their capacity to carry it out. 经过审慎考虑，我决定美国应对叙利亚政权的目标采取军事行动。这不会是一场没有期限的干预，我们也不会派遣地面部队。相反，我们的行动在时间和范围上都将受到限制。但我相信，我们能够追究阿萨德政权使用化学武器的责任，阻止类似行为再次发生，并削弱其实施此类袭击的能力。
Our military has positioned assets in the region. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs has informed me that we are prepared to strike whenever we choose. Moreover, the Chairman has indicated to me that our capacity to execute this mission is not time-sensitive; it will be effective tomorrow, or next week, or one month from now. And I'm prepared to give that order. 我们的军队已在该地区部署军事力量。参谋长联席会议主席告诉我，我们随时可以发动打击。他还表示，执行这项任务的能力并不受时间限制：无论明天、下周还是一个月后，我们都能有效行动。我已准备好下达命令。
But having made my decision as Commander-in-Chief based on what I am convinced is our national security interests, I'm also mindful that I'm the President of the world's oldest constitutional democracy. I've long believed that our power is rooted not just in our military might, but in our example as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. And that's why I've made a second decision: I will seek authorization for the use of force from the American people's representatives in Congress. 作为三军统帅，我依据自己确信符合国家安全利益的判断作出了决定。但我也铭记，自己是世界上历史最悠久的宪政民主国家的总统。我始终相信，我们的力量不仅源于军事实力，也源于我们作为民有、民治、民享政府所树立的榜样。因此，我又作出了第二个决定：我将请求美国人民在国会的代表授权使用武力。
Over the last several days, we've heard from members of Congress who want their voices to be heard. I absolutely agree. So this morning, I spoke with all four congressional leaders, and they've agreed to schedule a debate and then a vote as soon as Congress comes back into session. 过去几天里，我们听到国会议员表示希望发出自己的声音。我完全赞同。因此，今天上午我与国会四位领袖通了话，他们同意在国会复会后尽快安排辩论和投票。
In the coming days, my administration stands ready to provide every member with the information they need to understand what happened in Syria and why it has such profound implications for America's national security. And all of us should be accountable as we move forward, and that can only be accomplished with a vote. 未来几天，我的政府随时准备向每位议员提供所需信息，帮助他们了解叙利亚发生了什么，以及这件事为何对美国国家安全有如此深远的影响。在继续前进的过程中，我们所有人都应承担责任，而这只有通过投票才能实现。
I'm confident in the case our government has made without waiting for U.N. inspectors. I'm comfortable going forward without the approval of a United Nations Security Council that, so far, has been completely paralyzed and unwilling to hold Assad accountable. As a consequence, many people have advised against taking this decision to Congress, and undoubtedly, they were impacted by what we saw happen in the United Kingdom this week when the Parliament of our closest ally failed to pass a resolution with a similar goal, even as the Prime Minister supported taking action. 即使不等待联合国核查人员的结论，我也相信我国政府提出的证据。我也愿意在没有联合国安理会批准的情况下采取行动；迄今为止，安理会一直陷于瘫痪，不愿追究阿萨德的责任。正因如此，许多人劝我不要将这一决定交给国会。毫无疑问，他们也受到了本周英国所发生事情的影响：尽管首相支持采取行动，我们最亲密盟友的议会却未能通过一项目标相近的决议。
Yet, while I believe I have the authority to carry out this military action without specific congressional authorization, I know that the country will be stronger if we take this course, and our actions will be even more effective. We should have this debate, because the issues are too big for business as usual. And this morning, John Boehner, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell agreed that this is the right thing to do for our democracy. 然而，尽管我认为自己无需国会特别授权便有权开展这次军事行动，但我知道，走这条路会让国家更加团结，也会让我们的行动更加有效。我们应当展开辩论，因为事关重大，不能照常处理。今天上午，约翰·博纳、哈里·里德、南希·佩洛西和米奇·麦康奈尔都同意，这样做符合我们的民主制度。
A country faces few decisions as grave as using military force, even when that force is limited. I respect the views of those who call for caution, particularly as our country emerges from a time of war that I was elected in part to end. But if we really do want to turn away from taking appropriate action in the face of such an unspeakable outrage, then we must acknowledge the costs of doing nothing. 一个国家很少面临比动用军事力量更重大的决定，即便动用的武力有限。我尊重主张谨慎行事的人，尤其是在我国正走出一段战争岁月之际；结束那段岁月，也是我当选的部分原因。但如果面对如此骇人听闻的暴行，我们真的要放弃采取适当行动，就必须承认无所作为的代价。
Here's my question for every member of Congress and every member of the global community: What message will we send if a dictator can gas hundreds of children to death in plain sight and pay no price? What's the purpose of the international system that we've built if a prohibition on the use of chemical weapons that has been agreed to by the governments of 98 percent of the world's people and approved overwhelmingly by the Congress of the United States is not enforced? 我要向每一位国会议员和国际社会的每一位成员提出这个问题：如果一个独裁者公然用毒气杀害数百名儿童却不付出任何代价，我们传递的会是什么信息？世界各国政府代表着全球百分之九十八的人口，它们都同意禁止使用化学武器；美国国会也以压倒性多数批准了这一禁令。如果禁令得不到执行，我们建立的国际体系又有什么意义？
Make no mistake -- this has implications beyond chemical warfare. If we won't enforce accountability in the face of this heinous act, what does it say about our resolve to stand up to others who flout fundamental international rules? To governments who would choose to build nuclear arms? To terrorist who would spread biological weapons? To armies who carry out genocide? 不要误解，这件事的影响并不限于化学战。面对这种令人发指的行径，如果我们不追究责任，那我们抵制其他违反基本国际规则者的决心又从何谈起？那些选择制造核武器的政府呢？那些企图传播生物武器的恐怖分子呢？那些实施种族灭绝的军队呢？
We cannot raise our children in a world where we will not follow through on the things we say, the accords we sign, the values that define us. 我们不能让孩子生活在这样一个世界：我们说过的话、签署的协定、界定我们自身的价值观，都得不到兑现和遵守。
So just as I will take this case to Congress, I will also deliver this message to the world. While the U.N. investigation has some time to report on its findings, we will insist that an atrocity committed with chemical weapons is not simply investigated, it must be confronted. 因此，正如我将向国会陈述这一理由，我也会向世界传达这一信息。联合国调查还需要一些时间才能公布结果，但我们会坚持：对使用化学武器犯下的暴行，不能仅仅展开调查，还必须予以正视和应对。
I don't expect every nation to agree with the decision we have made. Privately we've heard many expressions of support from our friends. But I will ask those who care about the writ of the international community to stand publicly behind our action. 我不指望每个国家都赞同我们作出的决定。我们已私下听到许多朋友表达支持。但我会请那些重视国际社会权威的国家公开支持我们的行动。
And finally, let me say this to the American people: I know well that we are weary of war. We've ended one war in Iraq. We're ending another in Afghanistan. And the American people have the good sense to know we cannot resolve the underlying conflict in Syria with our military. In that part of the world, there are ancient sectarian differences, and the hopes of the Arab Spring have unleashed forces of change that are going to take many years to resolve. And that's why we're not contemplating putting our troops in the middle of someone else's war. 最后，我要对美国人民说：我深知我们已经厌倦战争。我们结束了伊拉克的一场战争，也正在结束阿富汗的另一场战争。美国人民明白，我们无法凭借军事力量解决叙利亚冲突的深层根源。在那个地区，宗派分歧由来已久；阿拉伯之春带来的希望也释放出变革的力量，要化解这些力量引发的问题还需要许多年。因此，我们没有考虑把自己的军队派到别人的战争当中。
Instead, we'll continue to support the Syrian people through our pressure on the Assad regime, our commitment to the opposition, our care for the displaced, and our pursuit of a political resolution that achieves a government that respects the dignity of its people. 相反，我们将继续通过向阿萨德政权施压、支持反对派、照顾流离失所者，以及寻求政治解决方案，来支持叙利亚人民。我们的目标是建立一个尊重人民尊严的政府。
But we are the United States of America, and we cannot and must not turn a blind eye to what happened in Damascus. Out of the ashes of world war, we built an international order and enforced the rules that gave it meaning. And we did so because we believe that the rights of individuals to live in peace and dignity depends on the responsibilities of nations. We aren't perfect, but this nation more than any other has been willing to meet those responsibilities. 但我们是美利坚合众国，我们不能、也绝不能对大马士革发生的事情视而不见。世界大战的废墟之上，我们建立了国际秩序，并执行赋予它意义的规则。我们这样做，是因为我们相信，个人享有和平与尊严生活的权利，取决于各国是否履行自己的责任。我们并不完美，但在承担这些责任方面，我国比任何其他国家都更愿意挺身而出。
So to all members of Congress of both parties, I ask you to take this vote for our national security. I am looking forward to the debate. And in doing so, I ask you, members of Congress, to consider that some things are more important than partisan differences or the politics of the moment. 因此，我请两党所有国会议员为了我们的国家安全投下这一票。我期待这场辩论。同时，我请各位议员记住，有些事情比党派分歧或一时的政治得失更加重要。
Ultimately, this is not about who occupies this office at any given time; it's about who we are as a country. I believe that the people's representatives must be invested in what America does abroad, and now is the time to show the world that America keeps our commitments. We do what we say. And we lead with the belief that right makes might -- not the other way around. 归根结底，问题不在于此时此刻谁坐在总统的位置上，而在于我们作为一个国家是什么样子。我认为，人民的代表必须参与决定美国在海外的行动。现在正是向世界表明美国信守承诺的时候。我们言出必行。我们坚信正义带来力量，而不是力量决定正义，并以此信念引领世界。
We all know there are no easy options. But I wasn't elected to avoid hard decisions. And neither were the members of the House and the Senate. I've told you what I believe, that our security and our values demand that we cannot turn away from the massacre of countless civilians with chemical weapons. And our democracy is stronger when the President and the people's representatives stand together. 我们都知道，没有轻松的选择。但我当选总统不是为了逃避艰难决定，众议院和参议院的议员也不是。我已经告诉各位我的信念：我们的安全和价值观要求我们不能对无数平民遭化学武器屠杀的事实置之不理。当总统与人民的代表携手一致时，我们的民主制度会更加坚强。
I'm ready to act in the face of this outrage. Today I'm asking Congress to send a message to the world that we are ready to move forward together as one nation. 面对这一暴行，我已准备好采取行动。今天，我请国会向世界传递一个信息：我们准备作为一个团结的国家共同前进。
Thanks very much. 非常感谢。