I have been privileged(a.荣幸的) 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.
I am proud of the progress that has been made over the past two years on some of the key goals articulated(v.阐明) in our National Defense Strategy: putting the Department on a more sound budgetary(a.预算的) footing(n.基础), improving readiness(n.准备就绪) and lethality(n.致命性) in our forces, and reforming the Department's business practices for greater performance. Our troops continue to provide the capabilities needed to prevail(v.取胜) in conflict and sustain(v.维持) strong U.S. global influence.
One core(a.核心的) belief I have always held is that our strength as a nation is inextricably(ad.密不可分地) linked to the strength of our unique(a.独一无二的) and comprehensive(a.全面的) system of alliances(n.联盟) and partnerships(n.伙伴关系) . While the US remains the indispensable(a.不可或缺的) nation in the free world, we cannot protect our interests or serve that role effectively without maintaining(v.维持) strong alliances and showing respect to those allies(n.盟友) . 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(n.民主国家) demonstrated(v.展现) that strength in their commitment(n.承诺) to fighting alongside us following the 9-11 attack on America. The Defeat-ISIS coalition(n.联盟) of 74 nations is further proof.
Similarly, I believe we must be resolute(a.坚决的) and unambiguous(a.毫不含糊的) in our approach(n.方式) to those countries whose strategic(a.战略性的) interests are increasingly in tension(n.紧张关系) with ours. It is clear that China and Russia, for example, want to shape a world consistent(a.一致的) with their authoritarian(a.专制的)model — gaining veto(n.否决) authority(n.权力) over other nations’ economic, diplomatic(a.外交的), 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.
My views on treating allies with respect and also being clear-eyed(a.头脑清醒的) about both malign(a.有害的) actors and strategic competitors are strongly held and informed by over four decades of immersion(n.沉浸) in these issues. We must do everything possible to advance an international order that is most conducive(a.有利于) to our security, prosperity and values, and we are strengthened(v.加强) in this effort by the solidarity(n.团结) of our alliances.
Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are better aligned(v.使一致) 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(n.任期) is February 28, 2019, a date that should allow sufficient(a.足够的) time for a successor(n.继任者) to be nominated(v.提名) and confirmed(v.确认) as well as to make sure the Department's interests are properly articulated and protected at upcoming(a.即将到来的) events to include Congressional(a.国会的) posture(n.态度) hearings and the NATO Defense Ministerial(a.部长的) meeting in February. Further, that a full transition(n.过渡, 交接) to a new Secretary of Defense occurs well in advance of the transition of Chairman of the Joint(a.联合的) Chiefs of Staff in September in order to ensure stability within the Department.
I pledge(v.保证) 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(a.集中的) attention of the Department at all times so that they can fulfill(v.完成) their critical,round-the-clock(a.全天候的) mission to protect the American people.
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