VOA常速英语2008年-Bush Pledges New Aid for Liberian Schoolchildre

By Scott Stearns
Monrovia
21 February 2008

President Bush has announced new American funds to help Liberia rebuild its education system.  VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports the president visited this civil-war scarred country on the last stop of a five-nation tour of Africa.

Liberian troops snapped to attention as President Bush and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reviewed an honor guard at Robertsfield Airport outside the capital.

Schoolchildren waving American and Liberian flags lined the president's route through neighborhoods still badly damaged by years of civil war that killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions more.

While most of that fighting ended in 1996, the rebel leader elected president did little to improve the lives of his people.  Instead, Charles Taylor helped fuel rebellion in neighboring Sierra Leone.

President Bush sent U.S. Marines into Monrovia, upping the pressure on President Taylor who ultimately resigned and went into exile in Nigeria.  He is currently facing war crimes charges in The Hague.

President Bush has remained engaged in this nation founded by freed American slaves.  Since 2003, the United States has spent more than $200 million on peacekeepers here and $139 million on reforming the armed forces.

Mr. Bush has been a strong supporter of President Johnson Sirleaf.  First Lady Laura Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended her inauguration¹.  Last November, Mr. Bush awarded her America's highest civilian² honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Billboard-sized photos of that White House ceremony decorate Monrovia for this first visit by an American president in 30 years.

In remarks at the capital's main army barracks, President Bush said Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf has been a strong leader for Liberia.

"She has been a strong partner of the United States of America," he said.  "I am proud to call her friend.  And I am proud of the work we are doing together to help the people of this nation build a better life."

The president said America will give Liberia one million textbooks before the start of the next school year and fund the purchase of desks and chairs for 10,000 schoolchildren.  By producing that furniture locally, the new assistance will create jobs to help the economy as well as children.

President Johnson Sirleaf said Mr. Bush's support for her government shows that Liberia is back on track and open for business with America and the world.

"We thank God that the guns of war are silenced, our reconciliation³ process is under way, our people are beginning to sleep more soundly at night, our children are smiling again, and Liberians at home and abroad are reclaiming⁴ their pride and national identity," she said.

President Bush returns to Washington after a six-day trip to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia.

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 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。

4 reclaiming   

v.开拓( reclaim的现在分词 )；要求收回；从废料中回收（有用的材料）；挽救

参考例句：

• People here are reclaiming land from the sea. 这儿的人们正在填海拓地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• How could such a man need reclaiming? 这么一个了不起的人怎么还需要别人拯救呢？ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹