So let there be no doubt, Islam is a part of America. And I believe that America holds within her the truth that regardless of race, religion, or station in life, all of us share common aspirations: to live in peace and security, to get an education and to work with dignity, to love our families, our communities, and our God. These things we share. This is the hope of all humanity。

　　Of course, recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will be met only if we act boldly in the years ahead. And if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and our failure to meet them will hurt us all。

　　For we have learned from recent experience that when a financial system weakens in one country, prosperity is hurt everywhere. When a new flu infects one human being, all are at risk. When one nation pursues a nuclear weapon, the risk of nuclear attack rises for all nations。

　　When violent extremists operate in one stretch of mountains, people are endangered across an ocean. When innocents in Bosnia and Darfur are slaughtered, that is a stain on our collective conscience。

　　That is what it means to share this world in the 21st Century. That is the responsibility we have to one another as human beings. This is a difficult responsibility to embrace, for human history has often been a record of nations and tribes, and, yes, religions subjugating one another in pursuit of their own interests。

　　Yet in this new age, such attitudes are self-defeating. Given our interdependence, any world order that elevates one nation or group of people over another will inevitably fail. So whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners to it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership, our progress must be shared。

　　Now, that does not mean we should ignore sources of tension. Indeed, it suggests the opposite. We must face these tensions squarely. And so, in that spirit, let me speak as clearly and as plainly as I can about some specific issues that I believe we must finally confront together。

　　The first issue that we have to confront is violent extremism in all its forms. In Ankara, I made clear that America is not and never will be at war with Islam。

　　We will, however, relentlessly confront violent extremists who pose a grave threat to our security because we reject the same thing that people of all faiths reject, the killing of innocent men, women, and children. And it is my first duty as president to protect the American people。

　　The situation in Afghanistan demonstrates America's goals and our need to work together. Over seven years ago, the United States pursued Al Qaida and the Taliban with broad international support. We did not go by choice. We went because of necessity. I'm aware that there's still some who would question or even justify the offense of 9/11. But let us be clear. Al Qaida killed nearly 3,000 people on that day。

　　The victims were innocent men, women, and children from America and many other nations who had done nothing to harm anybody. And yet Al Qaida chose to ruthlessly murder these people, claimed credit for the attack, and even now states their determination to kill on a massive scale. They have affiliates in many countries and are trying to expand their reach。

　　These are not opinions to be debated. These are facts to be dealt with. Make no mistake, we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We see no military——we seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict。

　　We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and now Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case。

　　And that's why we're partnering with a coalition of 46 countries. And despite the costs involved, America's commitment will not weaken. Indeed, none of us should tolerate these extremists. They have killed in many countries. They have killed people of different faiths but, more than any other, they have killed Muslims. Their actions are irreconcilable with the rights of human beings, the progress of nations, and with Islam。

　　毋庸置疑，伊斯兰教是美国的一个组成部分。我相信美国恪守这样一种信条，即无论种族、宗教或身份，我们都拥有一个共同愿望——生活平静、安宁，接受教育，有尊严地工作，爱家庭，睦邻里，敬上帝。这是我们共同的愿望，也是全人类的希望。

　　当然，认识到人类的共性只是我们使命的开端。仅凭言语是无法满足人民需求的。在未来岁月里，我们只有大刀阔斧地行动，认识到挑战是我们所共同面临的，且一旦辜负了人民的希望，我们的整体利益就会受到损害。也只有这样做，我们才能满足人民的需求。

　　最近的经验告诉我们，一个国家金融体系的衰弱将会波及世界各地的繁荣。一个人感染上新型流感，那么，所有的人面临着被传染的危险。一个国家谋求核武器，那么，所有国家遭受核武器攻击的风险就会增加。

　　当极端分子在一个山区活动时，大洋彼岸的人也会陷入危险的境地。而波斯尼亚和达尔富尔地区无辜生灵惨遭涂炭时，我们所有人的良心都会留下污点。

　　这就是在21世纪拥有同一个世界的真正含义。这是我们作为人类对彼此应付的责任。然而，履行这一责任却任重而道远。一部人类史往往记录着各民族、各部落和各宗教为一己之私利而不惜相互倾轧。

　　然而在新的时代，那些狭隘的观点无疑会自取灭亡。我们是相互依存的，因此，任何一个企图凌驾于他人之上的国家和集团必将以失败而告终。无论我们怎么看待过去，都不应该被束缚住手脚。我们只有通过合作才能解决问题，我们的进步必须是共同进步。

　　但这并不意味着我们可以忽视造成紧张局势的根源。恰恰相反，我们必须正视这些根源。因此，本着这一精神，让我尽可能清楚明了地解释一下我们最终必须共同面对的若干具体问题。

　　我们首先要面对的个问题是各种形式的暴力极端主义。我曾在安卡拉明确表示，美国现在不会、将来也不会向伊斯兰教开战。

　　然而，在与对我们安全构成极大威胁的暴力极端主义分子进行较量时，我们绝不会心慈手软。因为，无辜生灵惨遭涂炭不会为任何宗教所接受，我们也决不会接受。作为总统，我的首要职责就是捍卫美国人民的安全。

　　阿富汗目前的局势表明了美国的目标以及我们双方合作的必要。7年前，美国打击“基地”组织和塔利班的行动得到了国际社会的广泛支持。我们当时已别无选择，必须采取必要的行动。我知道，至今仍有人对“9·11”事件心存疑问甚至想为为其正名。但我们必须明确一点，“基地”组织在当天就使近3 000人丧生。

　　罹难者当中包括美国和来自其他国家的男男女女，还有儿童，这些无辜的人从未做过任何伤害他人的事情。然而，“基地”组织却选择对他们进行无情的杀戮，并宣布对此次袭击负责。他们至今仍声称决心进行大规模杀戮。他们在许多国家都有同伙，并试图扩大自己的势力范围。

　　这些观点不容辩驳，而且是我们必须应对的事实。毫无疑问，我们无心在阿富汗保留驻军，也无意寻求在那里建立军事基地。让美国的青年男女流血牺牲实在是令人痛苦万分，继续驻军不仅要付出高昂的代价，而且在政治上也难以支撑。

　　如果能够证实阿富汗已无任何暴力极端主义的残渣余孽，那些扬言要对美国人格杀勿论的恐怖分子已经转移到巴基斯坦境内了，我们将非常乐于撤回全部军队。但事实并非如此。

　　所以，我们与46个国家结成联盟。尽管我们需要付出一些代价，但我们的决心不会减弱。的确，我们谁都不应容忍这些极端主义分子。他们在许多国家都曾大开杀戒。不同信仰的人们都沦为他们杀戮的对象，而罹难人数最多的却是穆斯林。他们的行径与人权相悖、与民族进步相悖、与伊斯兰信仰相悖。