Bush Praises Rumsfeld in Strong Show of Support

Nick Simeone

As more pictures surface of Iraqi prisoners being abused by American soldiers, President Bush Monday delivered another strong endorsement¹ of his Defense² Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who is facing calls to resign over the matter. The Pentagon is reviewing whether to release additional photos of prisoner abuse or just turn them over to Congress, which is set to question more military officials on the matter Tuesday.

The Army Times, a newspaper not accustomed to strong criticism of the Pentagon, has become the latest publication to suggest Defense Secretary Rumsfeld should step aside. But President Bush went to the Pentagon Monday and with his defense chief standing⁴ at his side, gave full support to the man who just three days ago appeared before Congress and took full responsibility for the still unfolding abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

"You are doing a superb job. You are a strong secretary of defense and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude⁵."

Senator Joe Biden, the top Democrat⁶ on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee disagrees and suggests a Rumsfeld resignation would demonstrate a clean break from past practices and go beyond just bringing American soldiers charged with involvement in the abuse before a court martial⁷.

"This is damaging the mission, which is to bring about a representative government in Iraq."

U.S. General Mark Kimmitt, deputy director for coalition⁸ operations in Iraq tells reporters the photos are indeed having a damaging impact on the image of American troops there.

"They are out on the streets every day and every person in this country has probably seen those photos and they are now starting to look at our soldiers with a different view."

The first military trial for American soldiers facing charges of abuse is set to open in Baghdad next week. In the meantime, Pentagon officials are deciding whether to release additional photos, some of which are said to be more graphic⁹ than those that have already been seen around the world. Making it into newspapers Monday was another photo, this one of a naked Iraqi cowering¹¹ in prison and surrounded by American soldiers and barking dogs.

In Iraq itself, gunmen in Fallujah parade through the streets, celebrating what they are calling their victory in the battle against the American occupation, even as U.S. Marines begin joint¹² patrols with Iraqi security forces there. After weeks of what had been some of the fiercest fighting in Iraq between Marines and Sunni rebels, a former officer in Saddam Hussein's military was installed to take charge of security, allowing Marines to pull back and for a ceasefire to take hold.

In Baghdad meanwhile, American tanks leveled the office of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose anti-coalition fighters continue battles with U.S. soldiers in several cities in southern Iraq, where they are refusing ultimatums¹⁴ to disarm¹⁵. A U.S. military official says the building destroyed was being used to stockpile weapons.
注释：
endorsement [in5dC:smEnt] n. 认可
Defense Secretary 国防部长
resign [ri5zain] v. 辞去，辞职
Pentagon [5pentE^En] n. 五角大楼
Congress [5kCN^res] n. 国会
set to 开始干
accustom³ [E5kQstEm] vt. 使习惯于
unfold [Qn5fEuld] vt. 显露，阐明
Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison 伊拉克阿布格莱布监狱
gratitude [5^rAtitju:d] n. 感谢的心情
resignation [7rezi^5neiFEn] n. 辞职
court martial 军事法庭
representative [7repri5zentEtiv] adj. 典型的，有代表性的
graphic [5^rAfik] adj. 真实的
cower¹⁰ [5kauE] vi. 畏缩
parade [pE5reid] n. 游行
patrol [pE5trEul] n. 巡逻
fierce [fiEs] adj. 凶猛的，猛烈的
ultimatum¹³ [7Qlti5meitEm] n. 最后通谍
destroy [dis5trCi] vt. 破坏，毁坏
stockpile [5stCkpail] vt. 贮存

 

1 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

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 accustom   

vt.使适应，使习惯

参考例句：

• It took him a while to accustom himself to the idea.他过了一段时间才习惯这个想法。
• It'shouldn't take long to accustom your students to working in groups.你的学生应该很快就会习惯分组学习的。

4 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。

5 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

6 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。

7 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

10 cower   

v.畏缩，退缩，抖缩

参考例句：

• I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat.我决不会在任何一位大师面前发抖，也不会为任何恐吓所屈服。
• Will the Chinese cower before difficulties when they are not afraid even of death?中国人死都不怕，还怕困难吗？

11 cowering   

v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He turned his baleful glare on the cowering suspect. 他恶毒地盯着那个蜷缩成一团的嫌疑犯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He stood over the cowering Herb with fists of fury. 他紧握着两个拳头怒气冲天地站在惊魂未定的赫伯面前。 来自辞典例句

12 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

13 ultimatum   

n.最后通牒

参考例句：

• This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
• The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。

14 ultimatums   

最后通牒( ultimatum的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Environmental groups in Nevada and the Midwest have issued similar ultimatums. 内华达和中西部的环保团体也发布了类似的最后通牒。
• A proactive teacher doesn't deliver ultimatums. [先发制人式]师并不下最后通牒。

15 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。