04-10-08

布希將下令美軍暫停從伊撤軍 (President Bush Orders a Suspension of U.S. Troop Withdrawals from Iraq)

美國布希總統下令7月以後美軍暫停撤離伊拉克，並縮短新派美軍的輪換期。布希星期四在白宮發表的重要講話中位他的伊拉克戰爭政策進行了辯護。他說這項政策減少了教派間的暴力以及平民和軍隊的傷亡。

他說，由於15個月前開始的美軍增兵，美國和伊拉克的軍隊在戰爭中先發制人，恢復了取得勝利的希望。但是布希總統承認，目前仍存在麻煩，包括基地組織以及伊朗支援的武裝。

布希總統接受駐伊拉克美軍最高指揮官彼得雷烏克斯提出的建議。彼得雷烏斯將軍說，美軍應該7月開始暫停撤離伊拉克，讓指揮官有時間對安全狀況進行評估。按照這一計劃，預計美國11月選出新總統後，還會有大約14萬美軍留在伊拉克。

President Bush has ordered a suspension of U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq after July and shortened tours for incoming troops. In a major speech on the war at the White House Thursday, Mr. Bush defended his war policy, saying it has reduced sectarian violence and civilian and military deaths.

He said thanks to a surge in U.S. troops 15 months ago, U.S. and Iraqi forces have the initiative in the war and the prospect of success has been revived. But Mr. Bush acknowledged complications remain, including al-Qaida and Iranian-backed fighters.

President Bush is accepting the recommendations of his top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus on the war. The general says U.S. troop withdrawals should be suspended starting in July to allow time for commanders to evaluate security conditions. That is expected to leave about 140-thousand troops on the ground in Iraq after a new U.S. president is elected in November.

日本處決四名死刑犯 (Japan Executes Four Condemned Inmates)

日本官員說，4名被判刑的殺人犯星期四被處決。這是日本自1993年終止暫停死刑後，第一次處決多名犯人。日本刑事司法制度非常隱秘。當局通常不事先發出公告就對死刑犯執行死刑。

Japanese officials say four convicted murderers were executed Thursday. These are the first multiple executions since Japan ended a moratorium on the death penalty in 1993. Japan's criminal justice system is extremely secretive. Condemned inmates are often executed without prior notice.