VOA常速英语2007-Bush Promises More Help for Liberia

By Paula Wolfson
White House
18 October 2007

President Bush is offering more help to the young democratically-elected government of Liberia.   VOA's Paula Wolfson reports he spoke¹ after talks at the White House with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

The agenda² for their half-hour meeting focused on areas where the United States can help further progress in Liberia.

President Bush says the United State is supporting international debt relief, and efforts to provide education and health services.  He says Liberia will get extra help from a special U.S. program to fight malaria³.

"That initiative⁴ will mean spreading nets and insecticides throughout the country so that we can see a reduction in death in young children," Mr. Bush said.

Also heading to Liberia will be the first Peace Corps⁵ volunteers to serve in that country in years.   They stayed away during the country's decade-long civil war.

"The Peace Corps has been in touch with our State Department and the Liberia folks and it looks like we are going to get some teams very quickly back into Liberia," Mr. Bush said.  "And the reason why we feel comfortable doing that is because of the leadership of this strong person right here."

This meeting marked the third time President Bush has welcomed President Sirleaf to the White House since her inauguration⁶ in January 2006.

She was elected following the bloody⁷ tenure⁸ of former President Charles Taylor.  He is being tried for war crimes by a U.N.-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone.

President Sirleaf says her country continues to face many challenges, but progress is being made.  She says American help has made the difference.

"Overall, we are so pleased with the relationship," Mrs. Sirleaf said. "Liberians are very proud that you are one of the first ones who set us on this road to peace and the progress we have today."

The Liberian leader says her country wants to rise up from the ashes of war and become a post-conflict success story.

1 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。

2 agenda   

n.议事日程，记事册

参考例句：

• We now proceed to the next item on the agenda.我们现在着手讨论下一项议题。
• If there is no objection,the agenda is adopted.如果没有意见，议程就通过了。

3 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

4 initiative   

n.主动性，首创精神，主动权（的行动），倡议

参考例句：

• He went to see the headmaster on his own initiative.他主动去看望校长。
• His employer had described him as lacking in initiative and drive.雇主说他缺乏进取心和干劲。

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

7 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

8 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。