2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Victory in Iraq 'Vital'

By Margaret Besheer
Whtie House
20 October 2006

President Bush took to the campaign trail Friday, trying to boost his Republican Party, which is seeking to retain control of Congress in legislative¹ elections next month. The president attacked opposition² Democrats³, saying their party is not up to the challenge of protecting the United States from terrorist threats.

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President Bush gestures while speaking at a Republican Party fund raiser in Washington

October is shaping up to be one of the deadliest months for American troops since the U.S.-led war in Iraq began in March 2003. More than 70 troops have been killed this month, as well as hundreds of Iraqi civilians⁴, amid growing sectarian violence between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims.

The White House says it will not allow political considerations to dictate⁵ its strategy in Iraq. President Bush told Republican supporters in Washington Friday that he knows the situation is difficult and is a fundamental issue in the current campaign. But he reaffirmed his commitment to achieve victory in Iraq, saying it us vital to the security of a generation of Americans to come.

"And so we will stay in Iraq, we will fight in Iraq, and we will win in Iraq," said Mr. Bush.

The president says tactics change all the time, but the strategy remains⁶ the same:  to achieve victory.

"Our goal in Iraq is clear and unchanging: a country that can sustain itself; a country that can govern itself; a country that can defend itself; and a country that will be an ally in the war against these extremists," he added.

The president, who has repeatedly criticized opposition Democrats as the "party of cut and run" for calling for a timetable to leave Iraq, accused them of being the party of "doubt and defeat." Mr. Bush says they consider Iraq a diversion from the larger war on terror, while he considers it a central part of protecting America.

Democrats have been seeking to capitalize on growing concerns over U.S. strategy in Iraq in congressional elections. They have criticized the president's strategy of "staying the course" in Iraq, in spite of spiraling violence. 

An independent commission led by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker⁷ and former Democratic Representative Lee Hamilton is exploring options for a new Iraq strategy. 

President Bush is holding informal consultations⁸ with General John Abizaid, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East. 

U.S. officials say President Bush will review the situation in Iraq in consultations with top U.S. generals Saturday.

1 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

2 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。

3 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》

4 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。

5 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

8 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》