2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Says Failure in Iraq Would Be 'Unacceptabl

By Scott Stearns
Washington
01 May 2007

coalition1 forces during a visit to US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, 1 May 2007" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070604/0901020.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

President Bush gestures as he speaks to members of the coalition forces during a visit to US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, 1 May 2007

President Bush says coalition forces are making progress against insurgents³ in Iraq. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Mr. Bush spoke⁴ to U.S. and allied⁵ commanders four years after declaring an end to major combat.

President Bush says terrorists in Iraq continue to unleash⁶ what he calls "horrific acts of violence." But he says coalition forces are making progress in capturing insurgent² leaders and disrupting car-bombers.

"There has been a decline in sectarian violence, and in some areas of the capital, Iraqis are returning to their neighborhoods with an increased feeling of security," said Mr. Bush.

The president spoke to U.S. and allied commanders meeting in the southern state of Florida on the fourth anniversary of his much-publicized appearance on the deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln under a banner that read: "Mission Accomplished⁷". At that time, he told sailors they had fought for the cause of liberty and world peace, freeing Iraq and making America more secure.

"Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed," he said.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino says the United States and its allies did prevail in terms of toppling the Iraqi army and Saddam Hussein.

But opposition⁸ Democrats⁹ have repeatedly seized on that speech as a sign that the president failed to understand the challenges ahead. They want U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq starting in October and have linked that demand with legislation funding the war.

Perino says it is a "trumped-up political stunt¹⁰ that is the height of cynicism" for Democrats to send the president the funding bill on this fourth anniversary of what has come to be known as the "Mission Accomplished" speech.

The president says he will veto the measure because a timetable for troop withdrawal¹¹ would embolden¹² the enemy and make America appear weak.

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

3 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

6 unleash   

vt.发泄，发出；解带子放开

参考例句：

• They hope to create allies to unleash against diseases,pests,and invasive species.他们希望创造出一些新群体来对付疾病、害虫和一些有侵害性的物种。
• Changing water levels now at times unleash a miasma of disease from exposed sewage.如今，大坝不时地改变水位，从暴露的污水释放出了疾病瘴气。

7 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

8 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。

9 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》

10 stunt   

n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长

参考例句：

• Lack of the right food may stunt growth.缺乏适当的食物会阻碍发育。
• Right up there is where the big stunt is taking place.那边将会有惊人的表演。

11 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。

12 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。