翻譯討論以黑體字標出：
美國防長馬蒂斯Jim N. Mattis致特朗普辭職信(中英文)
美國第26任國防部長馬蒂斯因與總統特朗普在國防政策和對待盟國等全球戰略上的嚴重分歧而於12月20日突然宣布辭職。他在辭職信中提到中俄兩國希望建造一個符合自己威權模式的世界，以損害其鄰國和美國及盟友的利益。美國和盟友必須共同防禦。
美國防長馬蒂斯致特朗普辭職信(中英文)
作者
法廣發表時間 22-12-2018 更改時間 22-12-2018 發表時間 16:11
美國防長馬蒂斯（左）與特朗普總統2018年10月白宮REUTERS/Leah Millis
美國第26任國防部長馬蒂斯因與總統特朗普在國防政策和對待盟國等全球戰略上的嚴重分歧而於12月20日突然宣布辭職。他在辭職信中提到中俄兩國希望建造一個符合自己威權模式的世界，以損害其鄰國和美國及盟友的利益。美國和盟友必須共同防禦。
中美學者智庫12月21日刊出美國國防部公布的馬蒂斯辭職信全文。翻譯：陳達飛
Dear Mr. President:
親愛的總統先生:
I have been privileged to serve as our country’s 26th Secretary of Defense which has allowed me to serve alongside our men and women of the Department in defense of our citizens and our ideals.
我有幸擔任我國第26任國防部長，這使我能夠與我國國防部的所有工作人員一道為我國公民和我們的理想服務。
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary footing, improving readiness and lethality in our forces, and reforming the Department’s business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail in conflict and sustain strong U.S.global influence.
我為過去兩年來在我們的國防戰略中闡明的一些關鍵目標上取得的進展感到自豪：把國防部建立在一個更穩健的預算基礎之上；提高我們部隊的戰備狀況和打擊能力；改革部門的業務實踐以提高工作表現 (翻譯錯誤值得商榷：)。我們的軍隊繼續提供在衝突中取勝和維持強大美國全球影響力所需的能力。
One core belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships. While the US remains the indispensable nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining strong alliances and showing respect to those allies. Like you, I have said from the beginning that the armed forces of the United States should not be the policeman of the world. Instead, we must use all tools of American power to provide for the common defense, including providing effective leadership to our alliances. NATO’s 29 democracies demonstrated that strength in their commitment to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition of 74 nations is further proof.
我一直堅信的一個核心信念是，我們國家的力量與我們獨一無二和全面的聯盟和夥伴關係的力量是密不可分的。儘管美國仍是自由世界不可或缺的國家，但如果不維持強大的聯盟並尊重這些盟友，我們就無法保護我們的利益或有效地發揮這一作用。和你們一樣，我從一開始就說過，美國的武裝部隊不應該成為世界的警察。相反，我們必須利用美國力量的所有工具來提供共同防禦，包括為我們的聯盟提供有效的領導。9-11襲擊之後，北約的29個民主國家展現了與我們並肩作戰的決心，由74個國家組成的擊敗ISIS的聯盟進一步證明了這一點。
Similarly, I believe we must be resolute and unambiguous in our approach to those countries whose strategic interests are increasingly in tension with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model gaining veto authority over other nations’economic, diplomatic, and security decisions to promote their own interests at the expense of their neighbors, America and our allies. That is why we must use all the tools of American power to provide for the common defense.
同樣，我認為，我們必須堅決和毫不含糊地以我們自己的方式處理那些其戰略利益與我們日益緊張的國家的關係。例如，中國和俄羅斯顯然希望塑造一個符合其威權模式的世界 在其他國家的經濟、外交和安全決策上獲得否決權 以犧牲鄰國、美國和我們的盟友的利益為代價促進自身利益。這就是為什麼我們必須使用美國力量的所有工具來提供共同防禦。
My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed about both malign actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened in this effort by the solidarity of our alliances.
我對尊重盟國以及對惡意行為者和戰略競爭對手保持清醒認識的看法，在過去40多年來我對這些問題的思考中得到了強烈的支持。我們必須盡一切可能促進最有利於我們的安全、繁榮和價值觀念的國際秩序的形成，在這一努力中，我們聯盟的團結使我們得到加強。
Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned with yours on these and other subjects, I believe it is right for me to step down from my position. The end date for my tenure is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient time for a successor to be nominated and confirmed as well as to make sure the Department’s interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming events to include Congressional posture hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in February. Further, that a full transition to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability within the Department.
因為你們有權選擇一位在這些問題和其他問題上與你們觀點更一致的國防部長，我相信我辭去我的職務是正確的選擇。我的任期結束日期是2019年2月28日，這個日期應該為提名和確認繼任者留出足夠的時間，還可以確保國防部的利益在即將舉行的活動中得到恰當的表達和維護，包括國會聽證會和2月份的北約國防部長會議。此外，為了確保國防部內部的穩定，在9月參謀長聯席會議主席交接之前，就會與新的國防部長做好全面交接。
I pledge my full effort to a smooth transition that ensures the needs and interests of the 2.15 million Service Members and 732,079 DoD civilians receive undistracted attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill their critical, round-the-clock mission to protect the American people. I very much appreciate this opportunity to serve the nation and our men and women in uniform.
我保證，我將全力實現平穩過渡，確保215萬名軍人和732079名國防部文職人員的需求和利益在任何時候都不會受到干擾，以便他們能夠完成關鍵的、24小時的任務，以保護美國人民。我非常感謝有這個機會為國家和我們所有的軍人服務。
Jim N. Mattis
吉姆·馬蒂斯
