2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: US Making Progress in Iraq

By Scott Stearns
White House
29 March 2006

President Bush says the U.S. mission in Iraq is making progress despite continuing violence.  Mr. Bush is explaining his strategy for success in Iraq at a time when a majority of Americans believe the country is slipping into civil war.

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George Bush   
  

In his latest effort to turn around falling public support for the war, President Bush sought to answer some of the questions he says Americans are asking about Iraq.

"Why are Iraqis so divided, and did America cause the instability by removing Saddam Hussein from power?  They ask, 'After three elections, why are the Iraqi people having such a hard time coming together? And can a country with so many divisions ever build a stable democracy?' They ask why we can't bring our troops home now and let the Iraqis sort out their differences on their own," said Mr. Bush.

In a speech to a bipartisan group that promotes political freedom, President Bush said the U.S. invasion did not cause the violence there. That, he says, is a legacy¹ of Saddam Hussein's brutal² repression³.

"Iraq is a nation that is physically⁴ and emotionally scarred by three decades of Saddam's tyranny, and these wounds will take time to heal," he added.

President Bush says terrorists are exploiting those wounds to block a new government by sparking civil war.

"The enemies of a free Iraq are employing the same tactics Saddam used: killing⁵ and terrorizing the Iraqi people in an effort to foment⁶ sectarian division," he explained.

A public opinion poll by the Pew Research Center says 66 percent of Americans believe U.S. efforts to prevent a civil war in Iraq are loosing ground. That is up 18 points from January.

President Bush says he is still optimistic about the country's political future.

"The violence we are seeing is showing Iraqi leaders the danger of sectarian division and underscoring the urgency of forming a national unity⁷ government," he said.

Mr. Bush says he knows some Americans disagree with his decision to invade Iraq, but everyone should agree that pulling out U.S. troops now would be a disaster.

"If we leave Iraq before the job is done, the terrorists will move in and fill the vacuum, and they will use that failed state to bring murder and destruction to freedom-loving nations," he said.

Mr. Bush says America will eventually leave Iraq, but will never retreat as that would signal to the world that Washington does not keep its word. He says Middle East tyrants⁸ would laugh at America's failed resolve and tighten⁹ their grip.

The president has given a series of speeches this month meant to reassure¹⁰ Americans about his strategy for victory in Iraq at a time of record low public approval ratings.

Fifty-six percent of Americans responding to a Time magazine poll disapprove¹¹ of the way the president is doing his job. Roughly 39 percent approve.

While Mr. Bush has talked up political and military progress that he says does not receive adequate attention in the media, he has not shied away from the challenges ahead.

"I wish I could tell you the violence in Iraq is waning¹² and that all the tough days in the struggle are behind us," he said.  "They are not. There will be more tough fighting ahead with difficult days that test the patience and resolve of our country. Yet we can have faith in the final outcome."

President Bush says he knows the work in Iraq is difficult, but he feels strongly that success there is vital to U.S. security.

1 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

2 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

3 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 foment   

v.煽动，助长

参考例句：

• The rebels know the truth and seek to foment revolution.那些叛乱者知道真相，并且想办法来挑起革命。
• That's an attempt to foment discord.这是挑拨。

7 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

8 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

9 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

10 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

11 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。

12 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》