美國總統奧巴馬宣佈放緩在阿富汗撤軍計劃

US President Barack Obama announced last Wednesday that he will maintain about 8,400 American troops in Afghanistan into 2017 through the end of his administration, slowing the drawdown of the US military presence in the country.

美國總統貝拉克·奧巴馬上週三宣佈，將在阿富汗維持約8400名美軍直至2017年其任期結束，此舉放緩了美軍從阿富汗撤軍的步伐。

Obama said the security situation in Afghanistan remains "precarious" and the country's security forces are still "not as strong as they need to be."

奧巴馬稱，當前阿富汗的安全形勢仍"不穩定"，阿富汗安全部隊仍不像"他們應有的那麼強大"。

Under initial plans, numbers of US troop in Afghanistan were to be reduced to 5,500, from a current level of 9,800.

根據最初的計劃，駐阿美軍人數將從目前的9800人削減至5500人。

"My decision today also sends a message to the Taliban and all those who have opposed Afghanistan's progress," the US president said in a televised address at the White House. "You have now been waging war against the Afghan people for many years. You've been unable to prevail."

這位美國總統在白宮的一個電視講話中表示：“我今天的這一決定也向塔利班和所有反對阿富汗進步的人傳達了一個信息：你們已經對阿富汗人民發動了多年的戰爭，但你們不會獲勝。”

Obama said the troops will remain focused on narrow missions of supporting Afghan forces and going after terrorists.

奧巴馬錶示，美軍仍將重點工作放在支持阿富汗軍隊和追捕恐怖分子上。

"Maintaining our forces at this specific level, based on our assessment of the security conditions and the strength of Afghan forces, will allow us to continue to provide tailored support to help Afghan forces continue to improve," he said.

他說：“將駐軍人數保持在該水平，是基於美方對安全形勢及阿富汗軍事實力的評估。該決定可使得我們提供具體的支持，以此來幫助阿富汗軍事實力的持續提高。”

The U.S. President said the new decision was based on recommendation of U.S. military leaders and following extensive consultations with his national security team.

美國總統表示，這一新決定是在聽取了美國軍事官員的建議的基礎上，並與國家安全團隊進行深度磋商之後得出的。

"The decision ensures that my successor has a solid foundation for continued progress in Afghanistan as well as the flexibility to address the threat of terrorism as it evolves," he added.

他補充說道：“這一決定可確使我的繼任者保有推動阿富汗情勢進展的堅實基礎，以及隨着恐怖主義的演變，應對其威脅的彈性。