01-25-08

盖茨说美国不会在伊拉克建立永久军事基地 (Gates Says U.S. Will Not Set Up Permanent Bases in Iraq)

美国国防部长罗伯特.盖茨说，美国无意在伊拉克建立永久军事基地。

盖茨星期四在五角大楼对记者作出上述表示。盖茨试图消除国会民主党人对美国和伊拉克拟议中的“驻军协议”的担忧。国会一些批评人士担心，这份协议将要求美军长期驻守在伊拉克。

但是盖茨强调说，协议并不涉及部队规模。他补充说，协议目前还处在初步谈判阶段，而且在制定过程中，布什行政当局也会与国会磋商。

美国国务院发言人说，“驻军协议”将为美国在伊拉克部署军队提供法律框架。

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. has no interest in setting up permanent military bases in Iraq.

Gates spoke to reporters at the Pentagon Thursday, playing down concerns from Democratic critics in Congress that a planned "Status of Forces Agreement" with Iraq will commit the U.S. to a long term military presence.

Some Democrats say such an agreement may force future U.S. presidents to have a set number of troops in Iraq.

But Gates stressed that the agreement would not talk about force levels. He added that the agreement is still in its earliest stages, and that the Bush administration will consult with Congress during its development. 

A State Department spokesman (Tom Casey) said the "Status of Forces Agreement" would be a legal outline for the U.S. presence in Iraq. 

布什下个月访问非洲 (Bushes to Visit Africa Next Month)

白宫宣布，布什总统与妻子，第一夫人劳拉将于下个月前往非洲。

他们这次定于2月15号到21号的出访行程将包括贝宁、坦桑尼亚、卢旺达、加纳和利比里亚。

白宫表示，布什总统将与这些国家的领导人举行会晤，共同探讨美国如何支持非洲大陆正在进行的民主改革、尊重人权以及经济机会。

布什总统上一次访问非洲是在2003年。白宫表示，布什总统此次出访将考察美国协助的各种项目的进展情况。这些项目包括促进经济发展、抗击艾滋病和疟疾以及其他可治疗的疾病。

The White House says President Bush and his wife, first lady Laura Bush, will travel to Africa next month.

The trip -- from February 15th through the 21st -- will take them to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia.

The White House says the president will meet with the leaders of those countries to discuss how the United States can support continued democratic reform, respect for human rights and economic opportunity across the continent.

Mr. Bush last visited Africa in 2003. The White House says that on this visit, he will review progress made in U.S.-assisted efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and other treatable diseases.