米軍空爆拡大へ 有志連合でイスラム国掃討を

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Forming international coalition only way to destroy Islamic State group
米軍空爆拡大へ　有志連合でイスラム国掃討を

Wiping out bloodthirsty extremist militants and restoring stability to the Middle East will require the swift creation of an international coalition prepared to stand united in this fight.
　残虐な過激派の掃討と中東の安定回復に向け、国際的な共闘態勢の構築を急がねばならない。

U.S. President Barack Obama has announced a plan to destroy the Islamic State, a Sunni extremist group that has been expanding its grip over swaths of northwest Iraq.
　オバマ米大統領が、イラク北西部で勢力を拡大するイスラム教スンニ派過激派組織「イスラム国」の壊滅を目指す方針を表明した。

Obama declared that U.S. air strikes conducted against the Islamic State in Iraq since early August will be widened to targets in neighboring Syria.
　８月上旬以降、イラク国内で実施してきた空爆をシリア領内に拡大するとも明言した。

The U.S. strategy aimed at the Islamic State is supported by more than 40 nations, including Japan. These countries share a sense of growing alarm that the threat of terrorism could spread. The recent brutal murder of two U.S. journalists by the extremist group has helped tip U.S. public opinion in favor of expanding the air strikes.
　イスラム国を標的とする米国の作戦は、日本など４０か国以上から支持されている。テロの脅威が拡散することへの危機感を共有しているためだ。米国人ジャーナリスト２人が惨殺され、米世論も空爆拡大支持へと傾いた。

“I can announce that America will lead a broad coalition to roll back this terrorist threat,” Obama said in a televised speech. Although this is an issue that will involve difficulties, we hope the United States will exercise its leadership in the fight against the Islamic State.
　大統領は「米国は広範な有志連合を率い、テロリストの脅威を後退させる」と強調した。困難を伴う課題だが、米国は指導力を発揮してもらいたい。

U.S. military forces will not be directly involved in combat operations on the ground. Indirect support will be provided to the Iraqi military and Kurdish forces fighting the Islamic State, and to moderate rebel groups in Syria.
　米軍は、地上での戦闘には直接参加せず、イスラム国と戦うイラク軍やクルド人組織、シリアの穏健反体制派を側面支援する。

Prerequisites for the U.S.’ indirect support are whether the new administration of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi can help domestic Sunni and Shiite groups reconcile, restore the military’s organizations and ability to fight the extremists.
　イラクのアバーディ新政権が、国内のスンニ派とシーア派の融和を図り、軍の組織と戦闘能力を立て直すことが前提となる。

The United States plans to cooperate with Saudi Arabia to help organize and train moderate rebel groups in Syria. While this likely will take some time, it is vital that capable fighting forces are developed.
　シリアでは、米国がサウジアラビアと協力し、穏健反体制派を組織化して、訓練する予定だ。時間はかかろうが、能力ある部隊を育成することが重要である。

Japan should lend hand

About 10 nations, including the United States and Britain, have decided to provide military support to Iraq, with Germany, Italy and Canada supplying weapons and ammunition to Kurdish forces. France also indicated it will join U.S.-led air strikes in Iraq. A coalition of willing nations, including major Arab countries, is steadily coming together.
　米英など１０か国がイラクへの軍事支援を、独伊やカナダはクルド人部隊向けの武器・弾薬供与をそれぞれ決めた。フランスもイラク領内の空爆に加わる意向を示し、アラブ主要国をも含む有志連合の輪が着実に広がりつつある。

The Islamic State has an estimated 30,000 fighters from about 50 nations. Weakening and defeating this organization will require even wider, more multifaceted cooperation from the international community.
　５０か国前後から約３万人の戦闘員を集めたイスラム国を弱体化させるには、国際社会のより幅広い多角的な協力が欠かせない。

To prevent these fighters from entering and leaving Iraq and Syria, all affected nations will need to closely share information and monitoring of state borders must be tightened. It is also crucial that the Islamic State’s sources of funds are cut off, and that a public information campaign be stepped up to counteract the extremists’ propaganda efforts.
　戦闘員の出入国を制限するため関係国が緊密に情報交換し、国境での監視を強化せねばならない。イスラム国の資金源を遮断し、その宣伝工作に対抗する広報戦略を強化することも大切だ。

The growing reach of the Islamic State has displaced thousands of people and left many more as refugees. Providing humanitarian aid to them is becoming ever more important. We hope Japan will actively provide financial and other support to the Middle East, a region on which the nation depends for much of its energy sources.
　大量に発生した難民・避難民に対する人道支援も、重要性を増している。エネルギーを中東に依存する日本も、資金面などで積極的に貢献したい。

Thirteen years have passed since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States.
　米国で「９・１１同時テロ」が起きてから、１３年が過ぎた。

The “war on terror” started in Afghanistan, where the Al-Qaida international terrorist network behind the 9/11 attacks was hiding out.
　「テロとの戦い」は、国際テロ組織アル・カーイダの潜むアフガニスタンで始まった。

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will finish its operations to maintain security in Afghanistan at the end of 2014. The fight against extremist groups will continue.
北大西洋条約機構のアフガンでの治安維持活動は今年末で終わるが、過激派との戦いは今後も続く。

Every party involved in this fight must be prepared for a long battle.
　長期戦の覚悟が求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14, 2014)Speech