2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Iraq War Vital for US Security

By Paula Wolfson
White House
25 October 2006

With American casualties on the rise in Iraq and a U.S. congressional election less than two weeks away, President Bush is making his case for continuing involvement in Iraq to the American people. The president underscored his determination to win the Iraq conflict at a White House news conference.

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Geroge Bush during news conference at the White House, Oct. 25, 2006   
  
The president says he is concerned about the loss of life and knows many Americans are not satisfied with the situation in Iraq.

"But we can not allow our dissatisfaction to turn into disillusionment about our purpose in this war," he said.

During a roughly hour-long session with reporters, the president described the situation in Iraq in somber¹ terms, highlighting both progress and setbacks. But he stressed again that the stakes are high, saying the conflict in Iraq is essential to America's security.

"If I did not think our mission in Iraq was vital to America's security, I would bring our troops home tomorrow," he said. "I have met too many wives and husbands who have lost their partners in life, too many children who will not ever see their mom or dad again. I owe it to them and the families that still have loved ones in harms way to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain."

Mr. Bush said timetables for a withdrawal², as suggested by many of his political opponents, are not an option. But he spoke³ of the importance of setting benchmarks, or goals, and striving to meet them. 
 
 
Nouri al-Maliki
  
The president stressed there are steps the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must take to bring down the violence, making clear Iraq's fate is ultimately in the hands of its elected leaders.

"In the end, the Iraq people and their government will have to make the difficult decisions necessary to solve these problems," he said.

Earlier, in Baghdad, Prime Minister Maliki angrily warned the United States not to dictate⁴ timetables to end the violence. The president said he understands just how tough the prime minister's job is, adding the United States will push for action, but only so far.

"We are pressing Iraq's leaders to take bold measures to save their country," said President Bush. "We are making it clear that America's patience is not unlimited⁵. Yet we also understand the difficult challenges Iraq's leaders face and we will not put more pressure on the Iraqi government than it can bear."

President Bush said the prime minister has the difficult task of trying to not only curb⁶ the bloodshed, but reconcile the various factions⁷ in Iraq. He said it is in America's interest to help the Iraqi leader succeed in his effort to build a unified⁸ country.

But Mr. Bush made clear America's tactics in Iraq are shifting over time, much as the tactics of the enemy have evolved over the duration of the war.

The president, who used to use the term "stay the course" to describe his policy on Iraq, put the emphasis on flexibility⁹.

"Our mission is to help the elected government in Iraq defeat common enemies, to bring peace and stability to Iraq and make our nation more secure," he said. "Our goals are unchanging. We are flexible in our methods toward achieving those goals."

The president was asked if the coming U.S. election is a referendum on Iraq. He said it is a referendum on which political party can build the economy and keep the American people safe, noting success in Iraq is central to U.S. national security.

1 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

2 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。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

5 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

6 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

7 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

8 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。

9 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。