2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Says Pakistan Moving Against Al-Qaida

By Scott Stearns
White House
21 July 2007

President Bush says Pakistan is taking steps to oust¹ al-Qaida terrorists from their safe haven² in tribal³ areas near the border with Afghanistan.  VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns reports, opposition⁴ Democrats⁵ say it is time for the president to start planning for the withdrawal⁶ of troops from Iraq.

Pakistani troops gather at site of suicide bombing in Matta, a town in Swat mountainous area of Pakistan's Northwest Frontier Province bordering Afghanistan, 15 July 2007

President Bush used his weekly radio address to reflect on the past week's National Intelligence Estimate, which says al-Qaida terrorists have rebuilt much of their capacity to strike thanks to the safe haven they have found in Pakistan.

The report attributes the al-Qaida resurgence⁷ to a deal that Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made with tribal leaders last year. President Musharraf agreed to withdraw government troops in exchange for a promise that tribal leaders would not allow the Taleban or al-Qaida to use the area.

President Bush says President Musharraf understands that plan was a mistake and is taking active steps to correct it.

President Bush speaks to the media regarding Iraq, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, 20 Jul 2007

"Pakistani forces are in the fight, and many have given their lives," said Mr. Bush.  "The United States supports them in these efforts. And we will work with our partners to deny safe haven to the Taleban and al-Qaida in Pakistan, or anywhere else in the world."

Mr. Bush says the new intelligence estimate reminds Americans that they face a persistent⁸ and evolving threat from al-Qaida nearly six years after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

"The men who run al-Qaida are determined⁹, capable, and ruthless," he added.  "They would be in a far stronger position to attack our people if America's military, law enforcement, intelligence services, and other elements of our government were not engaged in a worldwide effort to stop them."

The president says American troops must keep fighting al-Qaida terrorists in Iraq to prevent them from striking the United States.

A suspected terrorist is detained by Iraqi Army soldiers as US soldiers search his home in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, 20 July 2007

A public opinion poll this past week by CBS News and The New York Times says 74 percent of Americans believe the war is going badly. And nearly two-thirds of Americans disapprove¹⁰ of how the president is handling the fight.

Despite that public opposition, and growing discontent within the president's own political party, White House officials appear confident that they have at least until September to change opinions about the war.

That is when the administration next reports to Congress on the progress of the president's decision to send 30,000 additional troops to Iraq.

In the Democratic radio address, Senator Carl Levin says the intelligence estimate shows the war in Iraq is not making America safer, because during that war there has been an increase in terrorist threats.

Levin is sponsoring legislation to force President Bush to start withdrawing U.S. combat troops within 120 days. After an all-night debate this past week, the amendment¹¹ failed to gain enough votes for passage, despite several Republicans voting for it and several more voicing their concern about the conduct of the war.

Levin says Democratic leaders will force another vote on the bill.

Jack12 Reed, D-R.I., discusses legislation to change the course of the war in Iraq during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 10 July 2007 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070723/0955563.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Sen. Carl Levin, (l), accompanied by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., discusses legislation to change the course of the war in Iraq during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 10 July 2007

"If those Republicans who say they want a change in course in Iraq will vote for one, we can start bringing our troops home and force the Iraqi political leaders to take responsibility for their own country," he said.  "That is the only hope of success in Iraq."

Levin's legislation would give President Bush until next April to reposition U.S. troops to protect American diplomats¹³, train Iraqi soldiers, and focus more on fighting al-Qaida.

President Bush says he will not decide to withdraw troops from Iraq based on the advice of politicians in Washington. He says it is up to commanders in the field to decide when the fight it won.

1 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

4 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。

5 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》

6 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。

7 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

8 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

9 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。

10 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。

11 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

12 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

13 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》