2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Begins Push for Support on Iraq
时间：2019-01-09 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（三月）
By Scott Stearns
White House
11 March 2006
George W. Bush talks to press at conclusion of briefing, Saturday
President Bush says he is optimistic that Iraq will not collapse 1 into civil war following sectarian violence sparked by last month's bombing of a sacred Shi'ite shrine 2. Mr. Bush begins a series of speeches this month, meant to reassure 3 Americans about his strategy for success in Iraq.
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Amid the reprisal 4 killings 5 that followed last month's bombing of a Shi'ite mosque 6 in Samara, President Bush says the Iraqi people took a step back from what he calls the abyss of civil war with a sober reflection on what such violence would mean for their future.
"I am optimistic that the Iraqi people will overcome the challenges they face. And my optimism is based upon reality on the ground," said Mr. Bush. "There were some people, obviously, trying to foment 7 sectarian violence. Some have called it a civil war, but it didn't work."
The president spoke 8 to reporters Saturday following a White House briefing on Iraq with top U.S. military officials. He praised Iraqi security forces and religious leaders for restoring relative calm in 16 of the country's 18 provinces. He says plans for a first meeting of the new Iraqi parliament on March 19 are an important step toward stopping future violence.
"I'm optimistic that the leadership recognizes that sectarian violence will undermine the capacity for them to self-govern," he added. "I believe, we will have a unity 9 government in place that will help move the process forward. I fully 10 recognize that the nature of the enemy is such that they want to convince the world that we cannot succeed in Iraq. I know we are going to succeed, if we don't lose our will."
U.S. public opinion polls show nearly four of five Americans, and 70 percent of the president's own party, believe Iraq will disintegrate 11 into civil war. The latest Associated Press poll puts Mr. Bush's approval rating at just 37 percent, the lowest of his presidency 12.
In his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush said he understands why many Americans are wondering if the mission in Iraq was worth it, amid the daily news of car bombs and kidnappings and brutal 13 killings.
Tom Fox of Clear Brook 14, Virginia, is seen in this image aired by Al Jazeera TV on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006
The body of murdered American hostage Tom Fox was found Thursday. The Christian 15 peace activist 16 was abducted 17 along with three other Western aid workers in November.
President Bush did not directly mention Fox in his radio address. He said American security is directly linked to the liberty of the Iraqi people, and he is confident his strategy will result in victory.
"The last three years have tested our resolve," he noted 18. "The fighting has been tough. The enemy we face has proved to be brutal and relentless 19. We have changed our approach in many areas to reflect the hard realities on the ground. And the sacrifice being made by our young men and women who wear the uniform has been heartening and inspiring."
With U.S. troops in Iraq approaching their third anniversary since the fall of Saddam Hussein, the Bush administration is opening a campaign to reassure Americans that the White House has a strategy for success in Iraq.
President Bush, Vice 20 President Dick Cheney, Defense 21 Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will all be part of the push to restate that political, economic, and security strategy.
The president says he will focus on the progress U.S. forces are making, the lessons they have learned, and how leaders are fixing what has not worked. In a speech in Washington on Monday, he will talk about defeating terrorists and training Iraqi security forces to defend their own democracy.
- The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
- The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
- The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
- They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。
- This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
- The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。
- There is no political alternative but a big reprisal.政治上没有旁的选择只能是大规模报复。
- They bombed civilian targets in reprisal.他们炮轰平民目标作为报复。
- His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
- The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
- The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
- Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。
- The rebels know the truth and seek to foment revolution.那些叛乱者知道真相，并且想办法来挑起革命。
- That's an attempt to foment discord.这是挑拨。
- 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。
- When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
- We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
- The older strata gradually disintegrate.较老的岩层渐渐风化。
- The plane would probably disintegrate at that high speed.飞机以那么高速飞行也许会四分五裂。
- Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
- Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。
- She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
- They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。
- In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
- The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
- He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。
- Detectives have not ruled out the possibility that she was abducted. 侦探尚未排除她被绑架的可能性。
- The kid was abducted at the gate of kindergarten. 那小孩在幼儿园大门口被绑架走了。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
- Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。