2006年VOA标准英语-Iraqi PM Expresses Appreciation for US Troop Sa

By Scott Stearns
Washington
26 July 2006

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says he appreciates the sacrifice U.S. troops are making in his country. The prime minister and President Bush had lunch with American soldiers at a base outside the capital.

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Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki (left) with President Bush during visit with US soldiers    
  
Prime Minister Maliki says the Iraqi people salute¹ American troops for all they have done to free the country from the regime of Saddam Hussein.

"I appreciate that your colleagues who offered their lives on the land of Iraq, and I tell you that Iraqis will never forget these sacrifices. Because they have really participated in ridding Iraq of dictatorship, one of the ugliest regimes that the region has known," he said.

The prime minister told troops at an Army base in the state of Virginia that he sympathizes with the sacrifice and suffering of families who have lost loved ones in Iraq.

The prime minister, who lost many of his own family members during the regime of Saddam Hussein, says he feels the bitterness of loss, but believes that U.S. and Iraqi forces fighting together will turn back terrorist aggression².

"When blood mixes together in the field aiming to achieve one goal, this blood will help in establishing long-lasting relationship between us. Our relationship will stay forever," he said.

The president and prime minister carried their own trays through the food line at Ft. Belvoir, sitting on benches with some of the 150 soldiers present, most of whom were wearing camouflage³ uniforms.

President Bush says he and the prime minister have hard work to do together to ensure that freedom succeeds in Iraq and that terrorists are brought to justice.

"And that is why we have sent some of our finest citizens to help you, Mr. Prime Minister. We want you to succeed. It is in our nation's interest that you succeed. And I am confident that we will succeed," he said.

No matter how tough it gets, President Bush says U.S. troops will complete this mission because they owe it to those who served before them and to those who lost their lives.

President Bush welcomed Prime Minister Maliki to Washington as part of an effort to show Americans that the U.S. mission in Iraq is making progress.

The latest public-opinion poll by the newspaper USA Today shows 56 percent of Americans now believe it was a mistake to send U.S. troops to Iraq. The poll says 62 percent disapprove⁴ of the way the president is handling the situation and 38 percent approve.

1 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

2 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

3 camouflage   

n./v.掩饰，伪装

参考例句：

• The white fur of the polar bear is a natural camouflage.北极熊身上的白色的浓密软毛是一种天然的伪装。
• The animal's markings provide effective camouflage.这种动物身上的斑纹是很有效的伪装。

4 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。