2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Says Enemy Vulnerable in Iraq

By Cindy Saine
Washington, DC
05 July 2006
 
watch report Bush Troops

President Bush spent part of his Independence Day holiday delivering a speech to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  He thanked them for their courage, and said terrorists around the world are vulnerable after the death of the al-Qaida leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. 

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President Bush smiles as he poses for group photo with military personnel during his visit to U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Tuesday
  
President Bush spoke¹ to U.S. troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of the 82nd Airborne Division.  He thanked American troops stationed around the world for their valor² and patriotism³.  Mr. Bush cited the recent killing⁴ of al-Qaida leader in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

He told the troops terrorists have suffered some major blows and are vulnerable.

"You're winning this war.  Your enemies understand that, too.  We get all kinds of evidence when we raid these safe houses about their concerns.  They bemoan⁵ the fact that we are keeping the pressure on them.  They see the successes we are having in training.  They know we are damaging their cause.  This moment, when the terrorists are suffering from the weight of successive blows, is not the time to call retreat.  We will stay, we will fight, and we will prevail."

President Bush again strongly rejected what he calls an "artificial timetable" to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.   Some Democratic Party lawmakers have called on him to set a timeframe for leaving and letting Iraqis take over the security of their country. The president said setting a timetable now would undermine the new Iraqi government and the morale⁶ of U.S. troops.

"I'm going to make you this promise.  I am not going to allow the sacrifice of 2,527 troops who have died in Iraq to be in vain by pulling out before the job is done. "

President Bush had lunch with the troops at Fort Bragg, and they brought out a birthday cake. The president turns 60 Thursday.

1 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。

2 valor   

n.勇气，英勇

参考例句：

• Fortitude is distinct from valor.坚韧不拔有别于勇猛。
• Frequently banality is the better parts of valor.老生常谈往往比大胆打破常规更为人称道。

3 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

4 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

5 bemoan   

v.悲叹，哀泣，痛哭；惋惜，不满于

参考例句：

• Purists bemoan the corruption of the language.主张语文纯正的人哀叹语言趋于不纯。
• Don't bemoan anything or anyone that you need to leave behind.不要再去抱怨那些你本该忘记的人或事。

6 morale   

n.道德准则，士气，斗志

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。