VOA常速英语2008年-Bush, Congress Respond with Grim Messages to US

By Dan Robinson
Washington
24 March 2008

Some members of Congress reacted Monday to the news that the U.S. military death toll¹ in Iraq has reached 4,000, with majority Democrats³ mixing messages of respect for the sacrifices of the military, with more criticism of President Bush. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the president also commented on the somber⁴ occasion.

Speaking for Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the 4,000-death mark a grim reminder⁵ of the enormous human cost of war in Iraq for the best and bravest in the military and their families.

Pelosi also referred to the thousands of injured in Iraq, many permanently⁶, adding that Americans are asking, "how much longer U.S. forces must continue to sacrifice for the sake of an Iraqi government that is unwilling⁷ or unable to secure its own future."

Missouri Democrat² and House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton said, "my heart is broken 4,000 times over", adding that "when the history of the Middle East is written, I hope it will have been worth it."

There was no formal statement issued by the offices of either the House or Senate Republican leaderships. The House Republican leader John Boehner was traveling overseas.

Historical perspective was also on the mind of President Bush who appeared Monday at the State Department with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Offering deepest sympathies to the families of civilian⁸ and military personnel killed in Iraq, the president referred to what he hopes will be history's positive assessment⁹ of the Iraq war and his decision to wage it.

"One day people will look back at this moment in history and say thank God there were courageous¹⁰ people willing to serve because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come [and] I have vowed¹² in the past and I will vow¹¹ so long as I am president to make sure that those lives were not lost in vain," he said.

Earlier, White House press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush bears the responsibility for the decisions he made to go to war in Iraq and grieves for the families of those killed, but also bears the responsibility to continue focusing on success.

The two Democrats vying¹³ for their party's presidential nomination¹⁴ marked the 4,000 death toll Monday, both pledging that, if elected, they will begin to bring the bulk of troops home.

Referring to those killed and wounded, Senator Hillary Clinton repeated her pledge to bring U.S. troops home as quickly and responsibly as possible.

In a written statement, Senator Barack Obama called every death a tragedy, and added that Iraqi government leaders should be pushed to take responsibility for their future.

By late Monday, Republican presidential nominee¹⁵, Senator John McCain did not make any formal statement on the 4,000 U.S. death figure, but he has been consistent in rejecting any quick U.S. withdrawal¹⁶ from Iraq.

When lawmakers return to work next week, they will be looking ahead to testimony¹⁷ on Capitol Hill on April 8 and 9 by U.S. Iraq commander General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

The last time both appeared before House and Senate committees, in September of last year, they urged patience saying that more time was needed to assess the impact of the 30,000-strong U.S. troop surge ordered by President Bush last year.

This time, there is speculation¹⁸ that Petraeus may recommend that the gradual draw down of U.S. forces, which would leave troop levels at roughly pre-surge levels in the final months of President Bush's final term in office, should be paused at some point later this year.

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

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 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

5 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

6 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

7 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

8 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。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 courageous   

adj.勇敢的，有胆量的

参考例句：

• We all honour courageous people.我们都尊重勇敢的人。
• He was roused to action by courageous words.豪言壮语促使他奋起行动。

11 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

12 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

13 vying   

adj.竞争的；比赛的

参考例句：

• California is vying with other states to capture a piece of the growing communications market.为了在日渐扩大的通讯市场分得一杯羹，加利福尼亚正在和其他州展开竞争。
• Four rescue plans are vying to save the zoo.4个拯救动物园的方案正争得不可开交。

14 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

15 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

16 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。

17 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

18 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。