VOA常速英语2008年-Bush Calls for Quick End to Turkey's Iraq Incur

By Paula Wolfson
White House
28 February 2008

President Bush is calling for Turkey to end its military operation against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq as soon as possible. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush talked about the Turkish offensive during a nationally broadcast White House news conference.

President Bush says the operation must be limited in nature.

"The Turks need to move, move quickly, achieve their objective and get out," he said.

The Bush administration has been walking a diplomatic tightrope¹ throughout the Turkish cross-border offensive, which began a week ago. It is seeking to support Turkey in its fight against terrorists, while backing Iraqi sovereignty.

Turkey maintains Kurdish extremists - members of the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK - have been launching attacks from northern Iraq on Turkish military personnel and civilians².

President Bush says Turkey, Iraq and the United States all agree the Kurdish rebels pose a threat that must be addressed.

"It is in nobody's interest that there be safe haven³ for people who have the willingness to kill innocent people," he said.

Mr. Bush spoke⁴ shortly after U.S. Secretary of Defense⁵ Robert Gates delivered the same message personally to Turkish leaders in Ankara.

Gates said they did not offer a timetable for ending the military offensive, but he said the United States will continue to provide Turkey with intelligence useful in tracking PKK targets.

At his news conference, the president also urged the U.S. Congress to stand with American troops in Iraq, and stop talking about cutting funding for the war.

Speaking after yet another Senate debate led by opponents of the president's war strategy, Mr. Bush suggested these lawmakers are ignoring signs of progress.

"In the face of these changes on the ground, congressional leaders are still sounding the same old call for withdrawal⁶," he said.  "I guess you could say that when it comes to pushing for withdrawal, their strategy is to stay the course."

The president said it is important to keep enough troops in Iraq to ensure that key political, economic and security goals are met. He also stressed that a quick American pull-out would enable al-Qaida to make good on its stated desire to set up a base of operations in Iraq.

1 tightrope   

n.绷紧的绳索或钢丝

参考例句：

• The audience held their breath as the acrobat walked along the tightrope.杂技演员走钢丝时，观众都屏住了呼吸。
• The tightrope walker kept her balance by holding up an umbrella.走钢丝的演员举着一把伞，保持身体的均衡。

2 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

3 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。

4 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。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

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。