VOA标准英语2009年-Military Leaders Back Obama's Iraq Plan

America's top military leaders say they back President Barack Obama's plan to drawdown U.S. forces in Iraq. They indicated in broadcast interviews they are fairly confident the plan will move forward on schedule.
　
President Obama's broadcast address, 28 Feb 2009

After extensive consultations¹ with defense² officials, the president went before members of the military Friday to announce his plan to end the war in Iraq.

"By August 31st, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end," said Mr. Obama.

Roughly two-thirds of the 142,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq will come home. The remainder, 35 to 50,000, will stay behind as a transition force. In time, they too will leave.

"I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011," he said.

That timetable is in keeping with an agreement reached between the United States and Iraq in the last weeks of the Bush administration.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the only holdover from the Bush Cabinet, says President Obama retains the ability as commander-in-chief to modify the withdrawal³ plan. But during an appearance on the NBC television program Meet the Press, he appeared confident no changes will be needed.

"I would characterize the likelihood of significant adjustments to this plan as fairly remote," said Gates.

Gates was asked about criticism of the plan from members of the president's Democratic Party, who do not like the idea of a large transitional force in Iraq until 2011.

He stressed their mission will be very different from the combat forces now in place. The defense secretary acknowledged the remaining troops will still face some danger, but far less than today.

"It is a very different kind of mission and the units that will be left there will be characterized differently, they will be called advisory⁴ and assistance brigades," he said. "They will not be called combat brigades."

U.S. commanders have indicated they are strongly supportive of the plan. The nation's top military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, told the Fox News Sunday program that he is comfortable with the president's decision.

"Clearly, the conditions are much more positive than they were two years ago," said Mullen. "And the conditions are set for the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people, to take over their own country and be responsible for it."

Both Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen said they were pleased with the process that led to the withdrawal plan.

Mullen said the president listened extensively to the commanders. And Gates said he thought Mr. Obama was more analytical⁵ than his predecessor⁶, George W. Bush.

"He makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue, and if they do not speak out, he calls on them," he said.

Gates said he does not know how long he might be willing to stay at the Pentagon, but admitted it might be a challenge to remain through President Obama's current four-year term in office.

1 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 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。

4 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

5 analytical   

adj.分析的；用分析法的

参考例句：

• I have an analytical approach to every survey.对每项调查我都采用分析方法。
• As a result,analytical data obtained by analysts were often in disagreement.结果各个分析家所得的分析数据常常不一致。

6 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。