2006年VOA标准英语-US Voters Send Message of Change in Iraq War St

By Bill Rodgers
Washington, DC
09 November 2006
 
watch US Election Foreign Policy
 

President George Bush, (left) with Donald Rumsfeld (file photo)  
  
Victorious¹ Congressional Democrats² are calling for change in the Bush administration's Iraq policy -- as President Bush announced the resignation of U.S. Defense³ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.  Distress⁴ over the Iraq war motivated many voters to cast their ballots⁵ for Democrats.

The war in Iraq was the main issue on the minds of most voters Tuesday. Exit polls show about six out of ten voters disapprove⁶ of the war  -- and this influenced their vote.  Many cast their ballots for Democrats promising⁷ to change Iraq policy. 

Among these voters was Virginia resident Thelma Smith, who believes the war has hurt the U.S. image abroad.  "I travel widely around the world. We've lost face with so many countries around the world.  Everyone used to be our friend and now it seems like, they're not."

Nancy Pelosi    
  
And change is what victorious Democrats are promising, especially on Iraq.   Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is likely to become House Speaker, made this clear Wednesday. "Nowhere was the call for a new direction more clear from the American people than in the war in Iraq.  This is something that we must work together with the president, we know that 'stay the course' is not working, has not made our country safer, it has not honored our commitment to our troops and it has not brought stability to the region.  We must not continue on this catastrophic path."

As a first step, Pelosi called for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld to resign -- a decision President Bush announced later in the day.

"Now, after a series of thoughtful conversations, Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that the timing⁸ is right for new leadership at the Pentagon. Don Rumsfeld has been a superb leader during a time of change, yet he also appreciates the value of bringing in a fresh perspective during a critical period in this war," said the president.

Mr. Bush also said he will work with Democrats on the Iraq issue but put limits on what he will accept. "It's very important that the people understand the consequences of failure, and I have vowed⁹ to the country that we're not going to fail, we're not going to leave before the job is done and obviously we've got a lot to do with some members of Congress."

But even with Democrats controlling both Houses of Congress, it is unclear what impact they will have on Iraq. Political scientist Dennis Johnson believes presidents still set the foreign policy agenda. "Congress, frankly¹⁰, likes to tinker with problems, they don't like to solve problems, particularly when it comes to foreign affairs. Given a bloodied¹¹, beaten up president and a new Congress, I'd still go with the president in foreign policy."

A bipartisan commission on Iraq, led by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker¹² and former Democratic Congressman¹³ Lee Hamilton, may provide a plan for both the administration and the Congress to follow.  They are expected to release their report in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, in Baghdad, Iraqis read the news about the Democratic gains in Congress; with some expressing hope those elected will work to provide security for Iraq.

1 victorious   

adj.胜利的，得胜的

参考例句：

• We are certain to be victorious.我们定会胜利。
• The victorious army returned in triumph.获胜的部队凯旋而归。

2 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》

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

5 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

10 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

11 bloodied   

v.血污的( bloody的过去式和过去分词 )；流血的；屠杀的；残忍的

参考例句：

• his bruised and bloodied nose 他沾满血的青肿的鼻子
• His pants leg was torn and bloodied when he fell. 他跌交时裤腿破了，还染上了血。 来自辞典例句

12 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。

13 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。