2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Tries to Boost Domestic Support for Iraq

By Jim Malone
Washington
14 June 2006
 
Following his brief visit to Baghdad, President Bush says he sees steady progress in Iraq as he continues to rally domestic support for the war effort there.

In the wake of his dramatic surprise visit to Baghdad and the recent death of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a newly confident President Bush seems intent on boosting domestic support for the war in Iraq. 

 
President Bush, speaks during a news conference in the Rose Garden at the White House 
  
"The American people have got to understand, I believe we are going to succeed," he said.  "That is why we are there.  My message to the Iraqis is we are going to help you succeed."

Zarqawi's death, the Bush visit to Baghdad and the formation of a new government have encouraged Republicans about the situation in Iraq.  Many of them worry that discontent over Iraq will hurt them politically in the November midterm congressional elections.

"It is a very courageous¹ act on his part, a very bold act and it communicates how deeply committed he is personally to winning this war and doing the right thing," said former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

These new developments in Iraq appear to be giving a slight boost to the president's public approval ratings, which have declined over much of the last year.

"It is hard to believe but if you check, you will find that Bush has not had a really positive week since the second inauguration², that was a year and a half ago," said Larry Sabato, who directs the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.  "He has had a long dry spell of primarily bad news and it has been one thing right after another and it has driven him from the mid-50's [in poll approval ratings] all the way down to the low to mid-30's.  So this was a very welcome week."

Some opposition³ Democrats⁴ caution the Bush administration not to read too much into the recent positive developments in Iraq.

"It is two years later and there is very little sign of progress," said Senator Charles Schumer of New York. "Even the killing⁵ of Zarqawi, as welcome as it is, does not indicate whether there is going to be a government that can run, does not indicate whether the Iraqi armed forces can start defending themselves."

Iraqi soldiers man a checkpoint in Baghdad  
  
President Bush says success in Iraq depends on the Iraqis, and that any drawdown of U.S. troops there will depend on the security situation.

But Republicans are clearly seizing on the latest round of good news in hopes of boosting their own chances of holding onto majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives in November.

Political analyst⁶ Larry Sabato believes it will take a lot more good news out of Iraq in the coming months to significantly sway domestic public opinion about the U.S. presence in Iraq.

"Most Americans have deep doubts about what is happening in Iraq," he added.  "They are delighted about the killing of Zarqawi.  I could not imagine any American not being happy about it and they will be happy every time a terrorist is caught.  But overall, they see Iraq as a tunnel without a light at the end of it."

Opposition Democrats remain divided over Iraq.  Those divisions were on display this week when some liberal activists⁷ booed a speech by Senator Hillary Clinton of New York in which she said she would not support a firm deadline for the withdrawal⁸ of U.S. troops from Iraq

1 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。

2 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

3 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。

4 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》

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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。