2006年VOA标准英语-Rice Defends US Actions in Iraq

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
01 April 2006

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack¹ Straw   
  
Anti-war protesters greeted U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for a second day, as she continued her visit to the northwestern British town of Blackburn.  Secretary Rice said the United States has made mistakes in Iraq, but it was not a mistake to oust² Saddam Hussein or push for democracy in the Middle East.

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About 200 angry protesters shouted and waved banners outside the Blackburn townhall, as Secretary Rice arrived to meet with local Muslim leaders. Blackburn, a dreary³ industrial town in Britain's northwest, is about 20 percent Muslim.  The secretary did not appear disturbed by the demonstrators.

"First of all, to a certain extent, the protesters make my point: that democracy is the only system that allows people to be heard, and to be heard peacefully," said Ms. Rice.

Inside the town hall, Secretary Rice told reporters that the United States has made mistakes in Iraq, but that it will be judged by its larger aims of peace and democracy in the Middle East.

"Of course, if you have ever made decisions, you have undoubtedly⁴ made mistakes in the decisions that you have made," she added.  "But, the important thing is to get the big, strategic decisions right. And, I am confident that the decision to overthrow⁵ Saddam Hussein, and give the Iraqi people an opportunity for peace and for democracy, is the right decision."

A planned visit to a Blackburn mosque⁶ was canceled after mosque leaders said they were concerned protesters would be too disruptive.

Secretary Rice is the guest of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, who is a native of Blackburn. He invited Rice to his hometown after he visited her home state of Alabama last year.

Meanwhile, in Iraq, efforts to form a government three months after elections stalled again Saturday.  A senior Shi'ite politician openly called for Shi'ite Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to withdraw his candidacy for another term in the post. Others within the Shi'ite alliance said there is growing support to choose another candidate.

Kurdish and Sunni Arab politicians have urged the Shi'ite alliance to replace Mr. al-Jaafari, saying his government has been unable to curb⁷ sectarian tensions. There are also reports that the United States has pressed the Shi'ites to choose a different candidate.

The latest political developments took place against a backdrop of violence, as several Iraqis were reported killed in incidents Saturday in and around the capital.

Meanwhile, freed U.S. hostage Jill Carroll arrived in Germany, as she makes her way home to the United States.  The 28-year-old freelance journalist was kidnapped January 7 in Baghdad, as her Iraqi translator was shot dead. Her driver escaped. She was freed Thursday in Baghdad.

1 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

2 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

3 dreary   

adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的

参考例句：

• They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
• She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。

4 undoubtedly   

adv.确实地，无疑地

参考例句：

• It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
• He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。

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 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

7 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。