"Good evening. Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices. Secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet, unyielding anger.
These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature, and we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could. Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, D.C., to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington, which had to be evacuated today, are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well. The search is under way for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources for our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them. I appreciate so very much the members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me." This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day, yet we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. Thank you. Good night and God bless America." (Agencies) | 晚上好。
今天，我們的同胞，我們的生活，我們的自由，遭到了一系列有預謀的、慘無人道的恐怖分子襲擊。許多人在飛機上或者是在他們的辦公室中不幸遇難，他們中有秘書，有商人和婦女，有軍人和政府工作人員，有父親和母親，還有朋友和鄰居。
數千個生命瞬間就被邪惡的恐怖主義襲擊吞噬了。
飛機撞到了高樓上，濃煙滾滾，巨大的建筑物坍塌了，我們無法相信這一畫面。我們心中充滿了極度的悲痛和無言的、無法妥協的憤怒。
這次大規模屠殺行為目的是為了恐嚇我們的國家，使美國陷入一片混亂之中。但他們失敗了。我們的國家非常強大，我們偉大的人民已經行動起來，勇敢保衛我們偉大的祖國。
恐怖主義襲擊能夠摧毀我們一些高大的建筑物，但卻動搖不了美國人民堅定的信念。這些恐怖活動能夠破壞鋼鐵大廈，但卻摧毀不了美國人民鋼鐵般的堅強意志。
美國成為恐怖分子的襲擊目標，是因為我們在世界上高舉自由和理想的火炬，但是任何人都不可能將這一火炬熄滅。
今天我們的國家遭遇了邪惡，這種邪惡是人性中最惡毒的。美國人民將全力以赴應對這一邪惡，我們的救援人員英勇無畏，無論是陌生人還是我們的朋友，他們紛紛伸出援助之手，向我們提供血液，給予他們力所能及的幫助。
事件發生之后，我立即啟動了政府的緊急應對計劃，我們的軍隊是強大的，他們已經做好了充分的準備。
我們的緊急救援隊伍正在紐約和華盛頓特區緊張地工作著，和當地救援人員并肩作戰。我們的當務之急是幫助那些受傷者，并保持高度警惕，隨時保護國內和世界各地的美國公民不再受到襲擊。
我們的政府將保持正常運轉，不會中斷。今天，華盛頓的聯邦政府機構大都被疏散，一些重要工作人員將于今天晚上恢復工作，而整個政府機構也將于明天全面正常辦公。
我們的金融機構依然強大，美國經濟也將恢復正常。
搜尋這些罪惡行徑的幕后操縱者的工作正在展開。我已經下令所有情報及司法部門全力協作，找出應為此事負責的人，并將他們繩之以法。我們將對恐怖分子和那些庇護他們的人一視同仁，決不姑息。
我對國會議員們能與我一起強烈譴責此次襲擊事件的行為表示贊賞。在此，我還代表美國人民，向對此事表示哀悼和伸出援助之手的世界各國的領導人表示誠摯的感謝。
美國和我們的朋友及盟友將與那些企盼和平與安全的國家攜手，共同為打贏反抗恐怖主義的戰爭而奮斗。
今晚，我要求你們一同祈禱，為所有處于災難之中的人們，為那些美好世界被無情擊碎的孩子，為所有那些安全受到威脅的人們。我祈禱他們能夠從《第23詩篇》中得到更大的力量和安慰，正如詩篇中所說的："就算我走過被死亡陰影籠罩的山谷，我也毫不畏懼，因為有你們和我在一起。"
今天，所有的美國人在公正和和平的信念下團結在一起。美國從前曾經擊敗過它的敵人，這次我們也能夠做到。
沒有人會忘記這一天，我們會繼續捍衛自由，捍衛我們這個世界上美好和正義的事業。
謝謝各位，晚安，愿上帝保佑美國！
（中國日報網站譯）
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Updated: 2001-09-12 01:00
