2007年VOA标准英语-White House Report Cites Mixed Progress in Iraq

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
12 July 2007

President Bush says there has been mixed progress in Iraq, and is calling for patience as an extra 30,000 U.S. troops take up their duties. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House.

President Bush answers questions during a news conference at the White House, 12 July 2007

President Bush says progress is slow in Iraq. But he says his revised strategy can work and he is urging Congress and the public to withhold¹ judgment² for a few more months.

"I know some in Washington would like us to be leaving Iraq now," he said. "To begin withdrawing before our commanders tell us we are ready would be dangerous."

The president spoke³ at a White House news conference, as he delivered a new report on Iraq to the U.S. Congress.

The interim⁴ report details progress toward meeting 18 benchmarks - or goals - set by both the American and Iraqi legislatures in the political, security and economic areas. Although President Bush said Iraq's performance has been satisfactory toward meeting eight of the targets, he said progress toward eight others has been non-satisfactory, and difficult to determine on two.

"Those who believe that the battle in Iraq is lost will likely point to the unsatisfactory performance on some of the political benchmarks," he added. "Those of us who believe the battle in Iraq can and must be won see the satisfactory performance on some of the security benchmarks as a cause for optimism."

The president stressed this report is designed to provide a quick impression of conditions now that the additional 30,000 U.S. troops he ordered deployed⁵ in January have arrived. And he said he is not surprised that political progress is slow.

"Our strategy is based on the premise⁶ that progress on security will pave the way for political progress, so it is not surprising that political progress is lagging behind the security gains we are seeing," Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Bush spoke as the House of Representatives opened debate on a bill calling for the withdrawal⁷ of most U.S. combat forces from Iraq by April of next year. Democratic leaders in the Senate announced plans to start formal consideration of their own drawdown measure next week.

Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois urged skeptical⁸ Republicans to join the effort to add the language to legislation authorizing⁹ military spending.

"This will be a moment for those Republican senators who question the policies of this administration to demonstrate that they really want change," said Durbin. 

Iraqi officials, sensitive to the criticism in the report and the debate in Washington, are calling on U.S. lawmakers to avoid any precipitous withdrawals¹⁰.

But, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh told VOA if the additional U.S. troops help bring the level of violence down, American forces could begin to wind down military operations next year.

"We think that in 2008 the Iraqi security forces will be built to a certain extent that we could have a certain withdrawal of the American troops in good numbers," said al-Dabbagh.

The Iraqi spokesman went on to say that a premature¹¹ withdrawal would be "a great gift to the terrorists."

1 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

2 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 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。

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

6 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

7 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。

8 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

9 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

10 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

11 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。