VOA慢速英语 2008 0322

IN THE NEWS - After Five Years of War, Attention Turns to What New President Would Do
Obama and Clinton both promise withdrawal¹, but differ on timing². McCain supports the Iraq policies of President Bush, who says "this is a fight America can and must win." Transcript³ of radio broadcast:
21 March 2008

 

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

This week, the war in Iraq entered its sixth year. For millions of Americans, the economy is a more pressing concern now. But the war is still an important political issue as Americans prepare to elect a new president.
　

Iraqis walk past the ruins of the former Iraqi army air defense4 headquarters in central Baghdad five years after the start of the war.

Rebuilding Iraq after the overthrow⁵ of Saddam Hussein has proven more difficult than expected. Free elections took place and a new government was formed, but an insurgency⁶ grew.

Last year President Bush ordered a temporary increase of thirty thousand troops. The surge has reduced levels of violence. But experts say long-term security will require political unity⁷ among the different groups in Iraq.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in the war. Several million have been displaced from their homes.

The fifth anniversary came as the United States had lost almost four thousand troops in the war. More than sixty thousand have been wounded.

Protesters demonstrated in Washington, D.C., and other cities, but the protests were not as energetic as in the past. President Bush marked the anniversary with a speech Wednesday at the Pentagon, the Defense Department headquarters.

PRESIDENT BUSH: "Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it. The answers are clear to me. Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision – and this a fight America can and must win."

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he would have all fighting forces out of Iraq within sixteen months in office. Hillary Clinton says she would begin withdrawing troops within sixty days of becoming president. But she has stopped short of setting a time for completion.

The Democratic candidates say the war is taking away money from national needs like health care and education. Congress will have approved about six hundred billion dollars for the war by the time the new budget year begins in October. Experts disagree about the total long-term costs of the war.

Senator Obama noted⁸ that the Iraq war has lasted longer than the American Civil War and both world wars. American involvement in World War Two lasted from nineteen forty-one to nineteen forty-five. American losses, though, have been far smaller in Iraq compared to other major conflicts.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain supports the current war policy. He has said he would keep troops in Iraq even for one hundred years if necessary. Senator McCain visited Iraq last weekend with a congressional delegation⁹.

A Reuters/Zogby poll this week suggested that both Democratic candidates would lose to John McCain in the November election. Last month the same poll showed John McCain losing to Barack Obama.

Next month, Congress will get another report on the war from American ambassador Ryan Crocker and commanding General David Petraeus. President Bush has to decide after that whether to order additional troop reductions after July.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I’m Steve Ember.

1 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

2 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

3 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

4 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

5 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

6 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。