2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Again Rejects Timetable for Troop Withdraw

By Scott Stearns
White House
20 April 2007

President Bush is again rejecting opposition¹ calls for a timetable to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, saying his new strategy is beginning to reduce sectarian violence. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

President Bush 18 April 2007

President Bush says his decision to send more American soldiers to Iraq is so far meeting expectations by beginning to reduce sectarian violence in the capital.

"There are still horrific attacks in Iraq, such as the bombings in Baghdad on Wednesday, but the direction of the fight is beginning to shift," said Mr. Bush.

The president is trying to rally support for a war that a majority of Americans now believe is a mistake. A public opinion poll by CBS News says two-thirds of Americans disapprove² of how the president is handling the war.

Speaking in the Midwest state of Michigan Friday, Mr. Bush again criticized opposition Democrats³ for calling for a timetable for troop withdrawal⁴, saying it undercuts U.S. forces at a time when there are signs of progress.

"They have passed bills in the House and the Senate that would impose restrictions⁵ on our military commanders and mandate⁶ a precipitous withdrawal by an arbitrary date," he added.

President Bush has vowed⁷ to veto any timetable for troop withdrawal. As both the House and Senate measures passed by close votes, it is highly unlikely Democrats can find the two-thirds majority needed to override⁸ the promised veto.

The president met with Democratic leaders this week to discuss their differences, but neither side showed signs of backing down.

Democrats want a timetable for troop withdrawal because they say it will force Iraq's government to take greater responsibility for its own security and will prevent the president from continuing what they say is an open-ended commitment in Iraq.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate Thursday, Majority Leader Harry⁹ Reid said it is time for a new direction.

"As long as we follow the president's path in Iraq, the war is lost. But there is still a chance to change course, and we must change course," said Mr. Reid.

Acknowledging that Democrats are unlikely to drop their demands for a troop withdrawal, President Bush says they should send him their legislation quickly so he can veto it and get Congress back to work on a spending bill without such a deadline.

1 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。

2 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。

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 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。

5 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

6 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

7 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。

8 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。