VOA双语新闻 Bush Says Iraq and Economy Top 2006 Agenda

President Bush says his biggest priorities for 2006 are winning the fight against terrorism and keeping the U.S. economy growing by creating more jobs. Opposition¹ Democrats² say the president is unfairly cutting spending on social programs.

布什总统说，他在2006年的首要任务是取得反恐战争的胜利，并通过创造就业机会来维持美国经济的增长。反对党民主党人士说，布什总统不公平地削减了社会福利项目的经费。

In the year ahead, President Bush says, it is a vital U.S. interest to pursue military, political and economic progress in Iraq, because a free society there makes Americans safer at home.

布什总统说，在新的一年里，至关重要的美国利益在于努力争取伊拉克的军事、政治和经济进展，因为一个自由的伊拉克会为美国人带来安全。

"As we help Iraq build a peaceful and stable democracy, the United States will gain an ally in the war on terror, inspire reformers across the Middle East and make the American people more secure," said George W. Bush.

布什总统说：在我们帮助伊拉克建立和平稳定的民主体制的同时，美国将又得到一个反恐战争的盟友，而且使中东各地的改革派受到鼓舞，还使得美国人民更为安全。”

In his weekly radio address, the president said U.S. forces are staying on the offensive, while transferring more control to Iraqi units. Mr. Bush said reconstruction³ efforts are moving forward after earlier setbacks, and the country's political leaders are making progress toward what he called an inclusive, unified⁴ and lasting⁵ democracy.

布什总统在每周例行的广播讲话中说，美国军队在保持进攻状态的同时，正在向伊拉克部队移交更多的控制权。布什说，伊拉克的重建工作经过初期的挫折后，目前正在取得进展，而且伊拉克的政界领导人正在朝“各方参与、团结一致、持久民主”的方向前进。

The president ended 2005 with a series of speeches meant to reverse falling public support for the war. Mr. Bush has rebounded⁶ somewhat from record low approval ratings following relatively⁷ peaceful parliamentary elections in Iraq and continued growth in the U.S. economy.

布什总统在2005年年终前作了一系列讲话，目的是要扭转公众对伊拉克战争的支持率下降的局面。在伊拉克的议会选举较为平静地完成之后，并且随着美国经济的持续发展，布什总统的公众支持率从最低水平上有所回升。

The president says tax cuts, spending restraint and hard work have kept the U.S. economy the envy of the world.

布什总统说，减少税收、紧缩开支和勤奋工作使美国经济成为世界各国称羡的对象。

"Inflation is low, productivity is high and small businesses are flourishing," he said. "Real disposable income is up, consumers are confident and early reports suggest good retail⁸ sales this holiday season."

他说：“通货膨胀率低下、生产力上升、小型企业繁荣、税后的可支配收入增加、消费者信心加强。前期报告显示：这次节日期间零售业销售兴旺。”

To keep the economy moving forward, President Bush called on Congress to approve his budget ending, or reducing about 90 government programs, and cutting social entitlement spending for the first time in nearly a decade.

为了保持经济持续发展，布什总统呼吁国会通过他提出的节约开支措施，内容涉及停止或者削减90个政府项目，并要在近10年来首次削减有关社会福利项目的经费。

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says the president's budget has misplaced priorities by cutting funds for health care and education.

国会众议院民主党领袖佩洛西说，布什总统的预算规划要削减卫生保健和教育经费这是不分主次的做法。

"The federal budget should be a statement of our national values," said Nancy Pelosi. "Sadly, the Republican budget fails that test."

她说：“联邦政府经费应当反映我们国家的价值观。令人悲哀的是共和党的预算规划没能做到这一点。”

Congresswoman Pelosi says Democrats want to expand opportunity and protect the middle class by reducing the deficit⁹ and expanding health care for children and veterans.

佩洛西说，民主党人希望通过减少赤字并加强儿童和退役军人的医疗保健工作而为中产阶层提供更多的机会和保护。

"Our American sense of community requires that we subsidize home heating for America's families, instead of subsidizing record profits for energy companies,"she said.

她说：“我们美国人的社群意识要求我们为美国家庭的取暖提供补贴，而不是为能源公司提供巨额利润。”

President Bush says he is being responsible with taxpayer¹⁰ money, funding national priorities while staying on track to cut the deficit in half by 2009.

布什总统说，他要对纳税人的金钱负责，一方面要为本国的当务之急提供经费，另一方面要在2009年把财政赤字降低一半。

After seeing in the New Year on their Texas ranch¹¹, the president and Mrs. Bush Sunday visit wounded troops at an Army hospital in the nearby-city of San Antonio, before returning to Washington.

布什总统和第一夫人在德克萨斯牧场迎来新年后，星期天要去邻近城市圣安东尼奥的军队医院探望受伤军人，随后返回华盛顿。
 
 

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

4 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

5 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

6 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

9 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

10 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

11 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。