2007年VOA标准英语-Bush, Democrats Discuss Iraq War Funding

By Scott Stearns
White House
18 April 2007

President Bush met with congressional Democrats¹ at the White House Wednesday to discuss their differences over funding wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports that the president says he will veto legislation passed by Democrats in the House and Senate because it includes timetables for a troop withdrawal² from Iraq.

President Bush, right, meets with Congressional leaders, House Minority Leader John Boehner and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 18 April 2007

President Bush told reporters before the meeting that he expects this will be one of many conversations with opposition³ legislators about how to fund the war in Iraq.

"People have strong opinions around the table, and I am looking forward to listening to them," said Mr. Bush.  "I've got my own opinion, which I am more than willing to share. The whole objective is to figure out how best to get our troops funded, get the money they need to do the job that I have asked them to do."

Democrats say their legislation supplies all the money President Bush is asking for. The obstacle is a timetable for getting U.S. troops out of Iraq if the government there does not meet certain benchmarks.

Democrats say the deadlines hold Iraq's government accountable for more of its own security and force the president to stop what they say is an open-ended commitment in Iraq.

President Bush promises to veto that legislation because he says timetables for a troop withdrawal would embolden⁴ the enemy and limit the flexibility⁵ of U.S. commanders on the ground.

Following their talks, it was clear that the president and Democrats in Congress remain at odds⁶ over the funding.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she appreciates that the president took the time to hear their views.

"It's about accountability," she noted⁷.  "As I say, it gives the president all of the benchmarks that he himself proposed, and all of the benchmarks regarding the Iraqi government that he has endorsed⁸. It does so, though, with an element of accountability. We cannot give the president a blank check, but we are willing to work with him to come to agreement."

A public opinion poll by the newspaper USA Today says 57 percent of Americans favor a timetable for troop withdrawal from Iraq.

President Bush says Democrats are trying to score political points, so he says they should get him the bill as soon as possible so he can veto it and get legislators back to work on a spending bill without deadlines.

The House and Senate measures passed in close votes, making it highly unlikely Democrats could find the two-thirds majority needed to override⁹ the president's promised veto.

1 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》

2 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 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。

4 embolden   

v.给…壮胆，鼓励

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine,he went over to introduce himself to her.他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• The Prime Minister was steadily emboldened by the discovery that he faced no opposition.发现自己并未遭到反对，首相渐渐有了信心。

5 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。

6 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？

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 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。