Bush, Kerry Battle Over War on Terrorism

 

By Paula Wolfson
President Bush and Senator John Kerry traded accusations¹ on Iraq and the war on terrorism Wednesday as they campaigned in crucial states where polls show a very close race.
In this campaign, what one candidate sees as stubbornness, the other calls resolve.
John Kerry says President Bush has made a series of mistakes in combating terror and waging war in Iraq. The Democratic nominee² says Mr. Bush ignores all advice that runs contrary to his own views, and refuses to recognize any problems.
"These are major misjudgments - misjudgments by stubbornness," said Senator Kerry. "You know, the president keeps saying how certain he is about things. But you can't just be always certain and frequently wrong."
But President Bush says his determination to get the job done is a sign of strength, and that he stands resolute³ in the face of the terrorist threat.
"The most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people," said President Bush. "If American shows uncertainty⁴ or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch."
Both candidates spoke⁵ Monday at campaign events in Iowa - a state in the upper Midwest where polls show a virtual tie in the race for the White House. They passed within about a hundred kilometers of each other and addressed rallies at roughly the same time, each man attacking the other's handling of key security issues.
Senator Kerry charged once again that the war on terrorism is suffering because President Bush has devoted⁶ so much time and attention to Iraq. Mr. Kerry praised the Americans now serving in Iraq and suggested they deserve a president who will always level with them.
"Our troops are the best trained, best led forces in the world and they have been doing their job honorably and bravely," he said. "The problem is the commander in chief has not been doing his."
President Bush countered that John Kerry has a "fundamental misunderstanding" of the war on terror, saying Iraq is a key part of the conflict.
"We are staying on the offensive," he said. "We will strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them at home. We will spread freedom and liberty and we will prevail."
The president noted⁷ that Jordanian militant⁸ Abu Musab al-Zarqawai, who is believed responsible for beheadings and other terrorist acts in Iraq, has apparently⁹ struck an alliance with al-Qaida. But the Kerry campaign said Mr. Bush is missing the point, that terrorists are more active in Iraq today because of the administration's poor post-war planning.
Paula Wolfson, VOA news, the White House.

注释：
accusation 谴责，指控
stubbornness 倔强，顽强
wage 发动
virtual 实质的
beheading 斩首

1 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

2 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

3 resolute   

adj.坚决的，果敢的

参考例句：

• He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
• The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• 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。

6 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• 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。

8 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

9 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。