VOA标准英语2008年-Bush, Dutch PM Discuss Military Cooperation in

By Scott Stearns
White House
05 June 2008

U.S. President George Bush and Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende met at the White House Thursday for talks that included their military cooperation in Afghanistan. VOA White House Correspondent¹ Scott Stearns has the story.
　

President Bush (r) and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende at the White House, 05 Jun 2008

The Netherlands is one of the biggest contributors to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and President Bush thanked Prime Minister Balkenende for that support.

"We're engaged in a struggle against ideologues who use murder to achieve their political objectives," said President Bush. "One way to help defeat those folks and marginalize them is to help others realize the blessings² of a free society. I appreciate your courage and I appreciate your troops, but the people of Afghanistan appreciate them more."

The Dutch government says it will have between 1,500 and 1,800 troops in Afghanistan as part of the NATO International Security and Assistance Force through the end of the year.

Speaking to reporters after their Oval³ Office talks, the president and prime minister said they also discussed close cooperation on fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Prime Minister Balkenende said they talked about global climate change and the need to conclude the latest round of world trade talks.

"We also talked about the European Union," said Prime Minister Balkenende. "And I am convinced that the United States and the European Union share the same values. We talked about it: freedom, human rights and democracy, economic dynamism, sustainable development. And I think that if we work together, we can really make a difference. And I think it is necessary."

In what was likely his last meeting with Mr. Bush as president, Prime Minister Balkenende said he looks forward to continued cooperation with the next American leader. Dutch officials are already preparing for events next year marking the 400th anniversary of the first recorded exploration by the Dutch East India Trading Company around the area that is now New York City.

1 correspondent   

n.记者，通信者；adj.符合的，一致的，相当的

参考例句：

• He volunteered as a correspondent for the war.他自愿担任作报道这次战争的记者。
• The result was correspondent with my wishes.结果与我的愿望是一致的。

2 blessings   

n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福

参考例句：

• Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马，焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 oval   

n. 椭圆，椭圆形跑道；adj. 卵形的，椭圆形的

参考例句：

• She has a lovely oval face.她长着一张可爱的椭圆脸。
• The shape of the earth is an oval.地球的形状是个椭圆形。