2006年VOA标准英语-Rice Defends Iraq Policy at Baptist Convention

By David Gollust
State Department
14 June 2006

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended Bush administration policy in Iraq, and American engagement abroad, in an address to a major Christian¹ group. She told the convention of Southern Baptists in North Carolina that U.S. intervention² does not assure Iraq will become a successful democracy, but that the chance of success is worth the price.

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Condoleezza Rice addresses Southern Baptist Convention, June 14, 2006  
  

The latest public opinion polls indicate that a majority of Americans now believe that intervention in Iraq was a mistake. But there was no indication of flagging support for administration policy at the Southern Baptist convention in Greensboro.

The audience of 12,000 gave Secretary Rice repeated standing³ ovations⁵ as she defended the U.S. military role in Iraq and Afghanistan, and depicted⁶ the United States as an indispensable defender⁷ of human rights around the world.

Rice was one of a handful of administration officials who knew in advance about President Bush's visit to Iraq Tuesday. She said the image of the President meeting with elected Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would have been unthinkable a few years ago, and is evidence that the sacrifice of American soldiers in Iraq has been worth it:

"Who could have imagined that these two democratic leaders would be standing together in Baghdad in the very same palace where Saddam Hussein and his henchmen conducted their tyranny, plundered⁸ their country and condemned⁹ thousands, hundreds of thousands, of innocent Iraqis to death? It has happened because of the hope and dedication¹⁰ of millions of ordinary Iraqis. And it has happened ladies and gentlemen, because of the courage and the sacrifice of America's fighting men and women," she said.

Rice drew another ovation⁴ when she cited the death at the hands of U.S. forces last week of Iraqi insurgent¹¹ leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

She said the United States, when possible, is bringing terrorists to justice, but when necessary she said it is "bringing justice to the terrorists."

The secretary of state, whose father and grandfather were Presbyterian ministers, made repeated references to her own faith and prayer, and cast U.S. efforts to promote freedom of worship and to combat human trafficking and slavery around the world in religious terms.

The mainly conservative Southern Baptists are considered a key Republican Party constituency, and Rice's appearance at the convention prompted renewed talk about her future after the State Department.

Rice fares better than other key Bush administration cabinet members in opinion polls and has been widely mentioned as a potential contender for the White House in 2008. But she has consistently denied having presidential ambitions.

1 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• 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。

2 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

3 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

4 ovation   

n.欢呼，热烈欢迎，热烈鼓掌

参考例句：

• The hero received a great ovation from the crowd. 那位英雄受到人群的热烈欢迎。
• The show won a standing ovation. 这场演出赢得全场起立鼓掌。

5 ovations   

n.热烈欢迎( ovation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Everywhere they appeared there were ovations. 他们出现在哪儿，哪儿就是一片欢呼声。 来自辞典例句
• There were notable standing ovations for the Iraqi and the Palestinian teams. 而且引人注目的是，伊拉克和巴勒斯坦代表团还受到了持久的掌声欢迎。 来自互联网

6 depicted   

描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述

参考例句：

• Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
• They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。

7 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

8 plundered   

掠夺，抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Many of our cultural treasures have been plundered by imperialists. 我国许多珍贵文物被帝国主义掠走了。
• The imperialists plundered many valuable works of art. 帝国主义列强掠夺了许多珍贵的艺术品。

9 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。

10 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

11 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。