2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Encouraged by Progress in Iraq

By Scott Stearns
White House
18 August 2007

President Bush says Americans should be encouraged by what he says is political and military progress in Iraq. VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the president is defending the war ahead of a key report to Congress next month.

President Bush used his weekly radio address to defend an unpopular war, saying a new military offensive in recent days is targeting terrorists who are fleeing Baghdad.

President Bush (file photo)

Mr. Bush says American military, civilian¹, and diplomatic teams are helping² Iraqi communities rebuild infrastructure³, create jobs, and encourage political reconciliation⁴.

"America will continue to urge Iraq's leaders to meet the benchmarks they have set," he said.  "Yet Americans can be encouraged by the progress and reconciliation that are taking place at the local level."

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An Iraqi soldier videotapes the ruins of a coordinated suicide attack in the town of Qahataniya, 15 Aug 2007

The president says American and Iraqi forces have struck what he calls powerful blows in recent months. He condemned⁶ Tuesday's truck bombs near the Syrian border, which killed at least 400 people, saying U.S. troops are going to go after those behind what he calls a horrific attack.

Mr. Bush is trying to rebuild some public support at a time when opinion polls show a majority of Americans believe the war is a mistake. The latest CBS News poll says nearly 70 percent of Americans disapprove⁷ of how the president is handling the war.

Opposition⁸ Democrats⁹ earlier this year failed to impose a timetable for a troop withdrawal¹⁰ from Iraq, largely because enough members of the president's own Republican Party voted to give his plan more time to work.

Many of those Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, are looking to the president's report to Congress next month for evidence that the president's decision to send more troops to Iraq is working.

The Democrats used their weekly radio address to focus on the economy. Night-shift waitress Fawn¹¹ Townsend says Democrats are helping working Americans by raising the minimum wage.

"Millions of Americans now have a little more in their paychecks to help pay for basic necessities like food and clothing. And now more Americans can save to build a better future for themselves and their families," she said.

President Bush continues his August break on his Texas ranch¹² before traveling to Quebec Monday for meetings with the leaders of Canada and Mexico.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

5 coordinated   

adj.协调的

参考例句：

• The sound has to be coordinated with the picture. 声音必须和画面协调一致。
• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

7 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。

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 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。

11 fawn   

n.未满周岁的小鹿；v.巴结，奉承

参考例句：

• A fawn behind the tree looked at us curiously.树后面一只小鹿好奇地看着我们。
• He said you fawn on the manager in order to get a promotion.他说你为了获得提拔，拍经理的马屁。

12 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。