2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Terror Fight Unchanged by Election Result

By Scott Stearns
White House
11 November 2006

U.S. President George Bush says America's fight against terrorism will not be affected¹ by this past week's election in which his political party's lost control of Congress. Opposition² Democrats³ vow⁴ to continue that fight, but with some changes.

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President Bush speaks at the Veterans Days ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery 
  
On the day Americans set aside to honor their military veterans, President Bush thanked those men and women in uniform for defending freedoms that include the right to choose their leaders at the ballot⁵ box, even in a time of war.

After his Republican Party lost control of Congress in Tuesday's vote, Mr. Bush met with leaders of the opposition Democratic Party and vowed⁶ to work together.

"The elections will bring changes to Washington. But one thing has not changed: America faces brutal⁷ enemies who have attacked us before and want to attack us again," said Mr. Bush.  "I have a message for these enemies: Do not confuse the workings of American democracy with a lack of American will. Our nation is committed to bringing you to justice, and we will prevail."

In his weekly radio address, the president said he looks forward to hearing from new congressional leaders about their ideas for supporting U.S. troops in the fight against terrorism.

He also reflected on the resignation of Defense⁸ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who many Democrats and some Republicans blame for what has gone wrong in Iraq.

Mr. Bush wants former CIA Director Robert Gates to replace Rumsfeld at the Pentagon.

"As secretary of defense, he will provide a fresh outlook on our strategy in Iraq, and what we need to do to prevail," he added.

In the Democratic radio address, national party chairman Howard Dean said the election results show that voters want changes in America's approach to Iraq and the broader war on terror.

 
Howard Dean (file photo) 
  
"Our agenda includes a new direction in defending America at home and around the world," said  Dean.  "We will listen to the military and take their advice and ensure that our troops and our agencies have the tools and equipment they need to defend our freedom."

Democrats want Iraqi leaders to take more responsibility for their own security so U.S. troop levels there can be reduced. President Bush says any timeline for a withdrawal⁹ of American forces would embolden¹⁰ insurgents¹¹.

Both the president and Democratic leaders in Congress say they are looking forward to the recommendations of a bipartisan panel on Iraq led by former Secretary of State James Baker¹² and former Congressman¹³ Lee Hamilton.

The president and senior Bush administration officials meet with that panel Monday.

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 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。

3 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》

4 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

5 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

8 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。

9 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。

10 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

11 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

12 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

13 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。