2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Defends War Strategy in Iraq, Says 'V

By Scott Stearns
Washington
06 April 2006

President Bush says Iraq is making progress toward forming a government of national unity¹ and stopping sectarian violence. 

George Bush delivers speech on global war on terror in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 6, 2006   
  
President Bush is continuing a campaign to convince Americans of his strategy for success in Iraq at a time of falling public support for the war.

Speaking at a community college in the state of North Carolina, the president said his approach to the fight against terrorism, and the war in Iraq, is working.

"Press the enemy. Find the enemy. Bring the enemy to justice. Never relent. Never give them quarter. Understand you cannot negotiate with these people. You cannot rationalize with these people. You must stay on the hunt, and bring them to justice. This is precisely² what we are doing," he said.

Public opinion polls show a majority of Americans now believe Iraq is slipping into civil war, and question whether the U.S.-led invasion three years ago was worth it. The latest Time magazine poll puts the president's approval rating at just 37 percent, the lowest registered in that survey.

Iraqis search through wreckage³ caused by car bomb which exploded about 300 meters from Imam Ali shrine⁴ in Najaf, April 6, 2006    
  
Mr. Bush says the Iraqi people are listening carefully to the American debate about the war, and whether the nation has the will to continue the fight. He says terrorists in Iraq are purposely targeting civilians⁵, to produce what he calls horrific images of car bombings and kidnappings that they know will be shown on American television.

"They recognize they cannot beat us on the battlefield," noted⁶ President Bush. "They cannot militarily defeat the United States of America, but they can affect our conscience. And I can understand why. Nobody likes to see violence on the TV screens."

President Bush says the enemy understands that, if America loses its nerve and retreats from Iraq, they win.

"They cannot shake my nerve. They just cannot shake it," said Mr. Bush. "So long as I think I am doing the right thing, and so long as we can win, I am going to leave our kids there, because it is necessary for the security of this country. If I did not think that we could win, I would pull them out. You just got to know that. I cannot sit with the mothers and fathers of our troops in harm's way, and not feel like victory is necessary, and victory will be achieved."

President Bush says Iraqi politicians understand the urgency of forming a government of national unity to overcome ethnic⁷ and religious divisions exploited by former dictator Saddam Hussein.

He says U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces are making progress in quelling⁸ sectarian violence sparked by February's bombing of a sacred Shi'ite shrine in Samara.

The president says victory will be achieved in Iraq when there is a democracy that can sustain itself, can defend itself against attacks, is an ally in the fight against terrorism, and denies safe haven⁹ to terrorists.

1 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。

2 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

3 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

4 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 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。

7 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

8 quelling   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Quelling her grief, she said 'Good-bye! 'again and went on. 她把悲痛压下去，二番说了一声再见，又转身走去了。 来自辞典例句
• The police succeeded in quelling the riot. 警方把暴乱镇压了下去。 来自辞典例句

9 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。