2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Discusses Iraq Study With Congressional Le

By Scott Stearns
White House
06 December 2006

After receiving a bipartisan report on Iraq, U.S. President George Bush met with members from both political parties in Congress to discuss the way forward. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

 
President Bush, center, speaks to members of the media following his meeting with the Iraq Study Group in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, 6 Dec 06
President Bush began the day in an early morning meeting with members of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, where the foreign policy experts presented 79 recommendations for shifting America's diplomatic and military approach to Iraq.

"This report will give us all an opportunity to find common ground for the good of the country, not for the good of the Republican Party or the Democrat¹ Party, but for the good of the country."

White House Spokesman Tony Snow says Administration officials spent much of the day reading the report and discussing its recommendations, which include the withdrawal² of nearly all U.S. combat forces by 2008 and more direct talks with Iran and Syria.

While Snow says it is too soon to discuss how many of those recommendations will be adopted, President Bush has previously³ rejected any timeline for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and has said there will be no direct talks with Iran until it stops enriching uranium.

Meeting later in the day with Democrats⁴ and Republicans on congressional intelligence committees, President Bush called the Iraq Study Group findings "very interesting."

 
President Bush, right, holds a copy of the Iraq Study Group report as Group Co-Chairman Lee Hamilton looks on, 6 Dec. 2006
"There are some very good ideas in there," he added.  "Not all of us around the table agree with every idea, but we do agree that it shows us that bipartisan consensus⁵ on important issues is possible. It's really important for the American people to know that there are people of goodwill⁶ here in town willing to set aside politics and focus on the security of this country and the peace of the world."

The 10-member commission was led by Republican James Baker⁷, who is a former secretary of state, and Democrat Lee Hamilton, a former congressman⁸ who once chaired the House International Relations Committee.

The panel spent months assessing the situation in Iraq, including interviews with U.S. officials, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Prime Minister Blair and President Bush meet at the White House Thursday where Iraq is expected to be at the center of their discussions.

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

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 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 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》

5 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

6 goodwill   

n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉

参考例句：

• His heart is full of goodwill to all men.他心里对所有人都充满着爱心。
• We paid ￡10,000 for the shop,and ￡2000 for its goodwill.我们用一万英镑买下了这家商店，两千英镑买下了它的信誉。

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 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。