2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Looking Forward to Meeting Lawmakers to Di

By Scott Stearns
White House
02 May 2007

President Bush says he is looking forward to meeting with Congressional leaders to discuss funding for the Iraq war. Tuesday, Mr. Bush vetoed funding legislation that would have provided money for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq because the measure included a timetable for a troop withdrawal¹ from Iraq, something Democrats² have been insisting on. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

President Bush, 2 May 2007

President Bush says there is no easy way out of Iraq. He vetoed a spending measure that would force him to start withdrawing troops by October, because he says leaving now would bring short-term satisfaction at the cost of long-term disaster.

"Al-Qaida terrorists who behead captives and order suicide bombings in Iraq would not simply be satisfied to see us gone," said president Bush. "A retreat in Iraq would mean that they would likely follow us here. A retreat in Iraq would say to a lot people around the world, particularly in the Middle East, that America cannot keep its word."

In a speech to a convention of general contractors³, the president again sought to link the war in Iraq with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He said his new strategy for success in Iraq is beginning to show significant progress in reducing sectarian violence.

"The terrorists will continue to fight back," he said. "In other words, they understand what they are doing. And casualties are likely to stay high. Yet day by day, block by block, we are steadfast⁴ in helping⁵ Iraqi leaders counter the terrorists, protect their people, and reclaim⁶ the capital."

A public opinion poll by CBS News and the New York Times says more than 70 percent of Americans disapprove⁷ of how the president is handling the war. Two-thirds of those surveyed support setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

The president meets with congressional leaders later Wednesday to discuss a possible compromise. White House Spokesman Tony Snow says if Democrats come with another timetable for troop withdrawal, they will get another veto.

Because the measure passed the House and Senate by close votes, it is highly unlikely Democrats can find the two-thirds majority needed to override⁸ the presidential veto. Party leaders say they will not back down.

Texas Congressman⁹ Lloyd Doggett says Democrats are determined¹⁰ to end what he says is the president's failed approach.

"The president can veto our plan for a safe, orderly, phased redeployment from Iraq, but he cannot veto reality," said Doggett. "Our troops are coming home. It is just a question of how much blood and money will be spent before they do."

President Bush says he is confident that with goodwill¹¹ on both sides Republicans and Democrats can move beyond political statements and agree on a bill that gives troops the funds and flexibility¹² they need.

1 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。

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 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 steadfast   

adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的

参考例句：

• Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
• He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

7 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。

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 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。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 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。

12 flexibility   

n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性

参考例句：

• Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
• The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。