2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends Policies in Iraq

By Margaret Besheer
Washington
30 September 2006

President Bush is strongly defending his policies in Iraq, as the fallout continues from a U.S. intelligence report that says, in part, the U.S.-led war is creating a new generation of terrorists.  The president is countering intensified¹ criticism from Democrats³ just five weeks before congressional elections, in which Republican Party control of Congress could be at risk.

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President George Bush   
  
President Bush is keeping up his attack on critics of the war in Iraq. He used his weekly radio address Saturday to counter Democrats, who accuse him of not having a clear strategy for stabilizing⁴ the war-torn country and bringing U.S. troops home.

The president said he declassified⁵ parts of the intelligence report, so that Americans could read it for themselves, and draw their own conclusions. He said the report confirms that the United States is up against a determined⁶ and capable enemy, which the U.S. must continue to fight.

"The terrorists are at war against us, because they hate everything America stands for, and because they know we stand in the way of their ambitions to take over the Middle East," he said.  "We are fighting to stop them from taking over Iraq, and turning that country into a safe haven⁷ that would be even more valuable than the one they lost in Afghanistan."

The president reaffirmed his commitment to keep U.S. troops in Iraq, arguing an early withdrawal⁸ would only embolden⁹ the terrorists.

"It would help them find new recruits to carry out even more destructive attacks on our nation, and it would give the terrorists a new sanctuary¹⁰ in the heart of the Middle East, with huge oil riches to fund their ambitions. America must not allow this to happen," he added.

But opposition¹¹ Democrats countered that the president has no real strategy for securing Iraq, and criticized his description earlier in the week of the Democrats as the "party of cut and run."

Former Army Captain Tammy Duckworth, who lost both her legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq, criticized Bush for the remark.

 
Democrat² Tammy Duckworth 
  
"Well, I did not cut and run, Mr. president. Like so many others, I proudly fought and sacrificed," she said.

Duckworth, who is running for a Congressional seat in the state of Illinois, also criticized the Republican-led Congress for not holding the Bush administration accountable for its Iraq policy.

"We need a Congress that will ask the tough questions, and work together for solutions, rather than attacking the patriotism¹² of those who disagree," she added.

She said it is time for Iraqi leaders to take control of their own country, and make the tough choices that will stop the violence and stabilize¹³ the country.

1 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

5 declassified   

adj.解密的v.对（机密文件等）销密( declassify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Thousands of classified documents have now been declassified. 数以千计的保密文件现在被解密了。
• The software used for Siemens S7-300 encryption logic block declassified. 此软件用于对西门子S7-300加密逻辑块解密。

6 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

7 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

8 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。

9 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。

10 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

11 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。

12 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

13 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。