2006年VOA标准英语-Iraq Concerns Worry Republicans

By Jim Malone
Washington
19 May 2006

Immigration is the hot topic of debate in Washington these days. But the situation in Iraq is never far from the minds of politicians and policy makers¹ in both major political parties.

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Outside the White House, anti-war protesters gather to urge the withdrawal² of U.S. troops from Iraq.

 

Cindy Sheehan outside the White House, May 18, 2006   
  

But the crowd is small, and protest organizers, like Cindy Sheehan, are trying to figure out why.

"Two-thirds of America [Americans] don't agree with the war and want our troops to start coming home," she said. "And, we do need to get more of our people out in the streets to reflect those polls, you know. And, if we do get those people out in the streets, then that can affect policy. We saw it with the immigration rallies."

The Bush administration pays little attention to the demonstrators, but it does follow public opinion polls that indicate growing pessimism³ about Iraq and steady erosion of support for Mr. Bush's handling of the situation there over the past year.

Karl Rove speaks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, May 15, 2006   
  
During a recent speech in Washington, Karl Rove, the president's top political advisor⁴, admitted attitudes about the war are hurting the president.

"Look, we are in a sour time, he said. I readily admit it. I mean, being in the middle of a war, where people turn on their television sets and see brave men and women dying, is not something that makes people happy and optimistic and upbeat."

Opposition⁵ Democrats⁶ believe public dissatisfaction over Iraq has set the stage for them to make gains in congressional elections in November.

 
Rep. John Murtha at Capitol Hill news conference, May 17, 2006
  
But as a party, Democrats remain divided on what to do in Iraq. Some, like Congressman⁷ John Murtha of Pennsylvania, believe the time has come to begin withdrawing substantial numbers of U.S. troops.

"While the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate⁸, this administration says things are going very, very well, he said. They want to sanitize this war."

Other Democrats, along with most Republicans, believe a quick withdrawal would undermine the progress that has occurred in Iraq.

President Bush's defense⁹ of the Iraq war still prompts a generally positive response from Republican audiences, like this one during a recent speech in Washington.

 
As Vice¹⁰ President Dick Cheney, left, looks on, President Bush speaks with members of the media (file photo) 
  
"Iraq was run by a dictator who was killing¹¹ his own people, who had used weapons of mass destruction, invaded his neighbors, was shooting at our aircraft, harboring terrorists, he said. The world is better off without Saddam Hussein in power."

But political analyst¹² Michael Barone says the public's dismal¹³ view of Iraq and the president's handling of the issue have made Republicans nervous about keeping their majorities in both houses of Congress in November.

"The Democrats only have to win [gain] 15 seats [in the House of Representatives], and while it is hard to see where they are going to do it specifically, I don't think you can say it is impossible, he said. And, Republicans are worried about the House elections in a way they were not in 2002 and 2004."

The president's public approval rating is hovering¹⁴ in the low 30s, largely because of Iraq.

But analyst Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution says there are signs that voters may be unhappy with both parties this year.

"The two people who were the Democratic candidates against him [Bush], John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore¹⁵ in 2000, actually have a lower approval rating than he does, he said. That shows, in part, that there is a general sense of unease throughout the United States about both parties."

While the polls show public discontent about Iraq, they also indicate most Americans are wary¹⁶ about pulling the troops out too quickly.

Former Republican Congressman John Kasich was a recent guest on VOA's Press Conference USA program.

"I think, most Americans know this, he said. It may have been the wrong thing to do [invade Iraq] in hindsight, but running out too quickly would be the wrong thing to do, and would send a signal that would endanger our country and our children."

Iraq, along with immigration and gas prices, is likely to be a major issue in this year's congressional elections, and in the 2008 presidential election, as well.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 pessimism   

n.悲观者，悲观主义者，厌世者

参考例句：

• He displayed his usual pessimism.他流露出惯有的悲观。
• There is the note of pessimism in his writings.他的著作带有悲观色彩。

4 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

5 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。

6 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》

7 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。

8 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

9 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。

10 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

11 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

12 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

13 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

14 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

15 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

16 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。