2007年VOA标准英语-US Democratic Presidential Contender Obama Prop

By Jim Malone
Washington
12 September 2007

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama Wednesday called for the withdrawal¹ of all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of next year. Senator Obama unveiled his new plan for Iraq in a campaign speech in the early presidential contest state of Iowa. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone reports from Washington.

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, delivers his policy speech on Iraq, in Clinton, Iowa, 12 Sep 2007

Obama said there is no military solution in Iraq and added that the best way to pressure Iraqi leaders into political reconciliation² is to begin immediately removing U.S. troops.

Obama proposed drawing down one to two U.S. combat brigades each month until all combat troops are withdrawn³ from Iraq by the end of 2008.

"The best way to protect our security and to pressure Iraq's leaders to resolve their civil war is to immediately begin to remove our combat troops," said Obama. "Not in six months or one year, but now."

Obama also advocated an aggressive diplomatic effort involving Iraq's neighbors and the United Nations to help stabilize⁴ the country once U.S. troops are gone.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, 04 Sept 2007

Obama reminded his audience that he opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, once again drawing a contrast with the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination⁵, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.

Clinton initially⁶ supported the war but now opposes President Bush's strategy on Iraq.

Obama trails Clinton among Democrats⁷ in the newest CNN poll by a margin⁸ of 39 to 20 percent, and in the latest Gallup survey by a margin of 48 to 25 percent.

Obama's proposal came after two days of congressional testimony⁹ from the top two Bush administration officials in Iraq, Ambassador Ryan Crocker and U.S. military commander General David Petraeus.

Both men said the security situation in Iraq has improved with the U.S. troop surge, but that Iraqi leaders need more time to bring about political reconciliation.

Crocker repeated that message to reporters at a Washington news conference Wednesday.

"This is going to take time," said Crocker. "It is going to take a lot of effort. It is going to take enormous resolve on the part of Iraqis and on the part of Americans to get this done."

President Bush will give a nationwide address Thursday on Iraq and is expected to endorse¹⁰ General Petraeus' recommendation for a gradual drawdown of 30,000 U.S. troops from Iraq by the middle of next year.

Democratic congressional leaders said that would not go far enough and described the Petraeus recommendation as unacceptable.

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 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

3 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

4 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

5 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

6 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

7 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》

8 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。