VOA常速英语2007年-Bush Says Iraq War Will be Won

By Scott Stearns
White House
02 November 2007

President Bush rallied U.S. troops in the southern state of South Carolina Friday. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, some of those new soldiers are headed for Iraq.

President Bush says the war in Iraq is critical to America's security and will be won.

"By taking the fight to the enemy in Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there so we do not have to face them in the United States," he said.

Speaking to soldiers and their families at an Army basic training center in South Carolina, the president again linked the war in Iraq with the terrorist attacks of 2001, saying the same forces responsible for that violence are now in Iraq plotting future attacks.

The president is trying to rebuild public support for what has become an unpopular war. The latest CBS News poll says a majority of Americans believe invading Iraq was a mistake and more than two thirds now disapprove¹ of the president's handling of the war.

Dissatisfaction with Iraq helped opposition² Democrats³ gain control of Congress earlier this year, but they have so far failed to force the president to set a timetable for the withdrawal⁴ of U.S. troops.

Mr. Bush says he will not be swayed by political concerns when it comes to fighting terrorism.

"I want to assure the loved ones here of something, and I want to assure those who wear the uniform of something: I will make decisions about our troop presence in Iraq and Afghanistan based upon the considered judgment⁵ of those who wear the uniform not based upon a Gallup poll or political party considerations," said President Bush.

The president says his decision earlier this year to send reinforcements to Iraq is beginning to show results. As Iraqi forces take more responsibility for their own security, Mr. Bush says more American troops will gradually be withdrawn⁶.

Nearly 6,000 Americans are expected home by the end of the year. Further cuts in 2008 could leave about 130,000 troops in Iraq.

1 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。

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 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。

5 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

6 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。