2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Falling Public Support for Iraq War Will

By Scott Stearns
White House
11 October 2006

U.S. President George Bush says falling public support for the war in Iraq will not cost Republicans control of Congress. Mr. Bush believes his political party will win next month's elections on issues of the economy and national security.

----

George Bush speaks during news conference in Rose Garden, Oct. 11,2006

President Bush says he understands that Americans are anxious about Iraq. He told reporters at a Rose Garden news conference that the continuing violence there is tough on the American psyche¹.

"I fully² understand the American people are seeing unspeakable violence on their TV screens," he said. "These are tough times in Iraq. The enemy is doing everything within its power to destroy the government and to drive us out of the Middle East."

Public-opinion polls show falling support for the war. A survey by the newspaper USA Today says two-thirds of Americans disapprove³ of the way President Bush is handling that conflict.

That has raised concerns among those in the president's political party that opposition⁴ to the war could cost them control of the Senate or House of Representatives in next month's elections.

The USA Today poll says 52 percent of voters believe opposition Democrats⁵ would do a better job handling Iraq. The war is likely to be on voters' minds as they go to the polls, with 86 percent saying Iraq is an extremely or very important part of deciding how they vote for Congress.

President Bush says he is confident that those voters will return Republican majorities to both the House and the Senate because the economy is strong and Americans know what is at stake in Iraq.

"I firmly believe that the American people understand that this is different from other wars because in this war if we were to leave early before the job is done, the enemy will follow us here," he said. "And so I believe we will maintain control because we are on the right side of the economic issue and the security issue."

President Bush says Americans want to know if he has a plan to win in Iraq. He says that plan includes constantly changing military tactics and continuing support for Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who the president says is bringing Shi'ite and Sunni leaders together to stop sectarian violence.

President Bush says that plan for success stands in sharp contrast to what he calls, "the cut-and-run approach of many Democrats who feel the war in Iraq is not worth it."

Democratic leaders say the president unfairly portrays⁶ them as wanting to abandon Iraq. Party chairman Howard Dean says Democrats want the Iraqi people to take more responsibility for their own security. He says Democrats want the president to focus more on protecting America by boosting border security and inspections⁷ of cargo⁸ at U.S. ports.

1 psyche   

n.精神；灵魂

参考例句：

• His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.他对这个神话的探讨揭示了美国人的心理。
• She spent her life plumbing the mysteries of the human psyche.她毕生探索人类心灵的奥秘。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

4 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。

5 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》

6 portrays   

v.画像( portray的第三人称单数 )；描述；描绘；描画

参考例句：

• The museum collection vividly portrays the heritage of 200 years of canals. 博物馆的藏品让运河200 年的历史再现眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The film portrays Gandhi as a kind of superman. 这部电影把甘地描绘成一个超人。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。