2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Hosts Iraq Strategy Session

By Paula Wolfson
White House
12 June 2006
 
President Bush is holding two days of private talks with his top advisers¹ to discuss - what he calls - "the way forward in Iraq." Leaders of the new Iraqi government will join the discussions Tuesday by videoconference.

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President Bush, surrounded by officials speaks to reporters at Camp David
  

The president says the success or failure of democracy in Iraq is in the hands of the new government.

"Success in Iraq will depend upon the capacity of the government in Iraq to provide for its people," said President Bush. "We recognize that."

Mr. Bush spoke² on the grounds of his Camp David retreat, surrounded by his leading civilian³ and military advisers. He said during their first day of discussions they focused on ways to help the fledgling Iraqi government deal with the country's security, economic and energy problems.

"The message to the Iraqi government is that we stand with you, that what you are doing is important," he said.

During a brief question and answer session, the president urged other countries to follow through on their pledges to help Iraq. He made a special appeal to Iraq's neighbors.

"Iraq's neighbors ought to do more to help," said George W. Bush. "We are constantly working with our friends in the neighborhood to encourage them to support this new democracy."

Mr. Bush was also asked about the possibility some coalition⁴ troops in Iraq might be pulled out soon. He said that is an assessment⁵ General George Casey, the chief military commander in Iraq, will make after consultations⁶ with the new Iraqi defense⁷ minister.

General Casey took part in Monday's discussions at Camp David via video-link, as did the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad. Mr. Bush urged them to pass along his congratulations to the troops who tracked down terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi last week.

When a reporter asked him about Zarqawi's successor, the president offered a quick response.

"I think the successor to Zarqawi is going to be on our list to bring to justice," he said.

On Tuesday, the discussions at Camp David will expand. They will end with a joint⁸ videoconference involving members of the Bush cabinet and top ministers in the new Iraqi government.

1 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

5 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

6 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》

7 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。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。