2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Optimistic Iraq Will Form National Un

（单词翻译）

By Scott Stearns
White House
24 February 2006

President Bush says he is optimistic that Iraq will succeed in forming a government of national unity¹, despite sectarian violence following this week's bombing of one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam.

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George Bush addresses American Legion members Friday   
  

President Bush says the enemies of freedom in Iraq are working to stop democracy because they are scared.

"They understand a democratic Iraq will be a major defeat in their totalitarian aims," he said. "They are going to continue their campaign of violence and destruction."

Mr. Bush says the world saw the terrorists' brutality² in Wednesday's bombing of a Shi'ite shrine³ in Samarra, which set off a wave of reprisals⁴ that killed more than 200 people.

The president again condemned⁵ that bombing, saying it was an affront⁶ to people of all faiths. He vowed⁷ to help bring those responsible to justice, and repeated calls for calm.

"Many religious leaders are committed to a unified⁸ Iraq, a peaceful Iraq," he said. "The response by the Grand Ayatollah Sistani and many other leaders has been constructive⁹ and very important, and we appreciate their leadership."

In a speech to U.S. military veterans, Mr. Bush said, this is a moment of choosing for the Iraqi people, and a time of testing for Iraqi security forces, who he says, U.S. generals report are doing a fine job in enforcing curfews and working to restore order.

"We can expect the coming days will be intense," he said. "Iraq remains¹⁰ a serious situation, but I'm optimistic because the Iraqi people have spoken."

He says they spoke¹¹ by participating in December elections, sending what he says was a clear signal to the world and to terrorists that they want freedom and democracy.

The president says forming a government from those elections will be a difficult and exhausting process. He encouraged politicians to reach out across religious and sectarian lines to build a government of national unity.

Once established, that government will face tough decisions on security, reconstruction¹², and economic reform. Mr. Bush says it will need to earn the confidence of the Iraqi people by showing it can protect them from terrorists, by putting a stop to human rights abuses by security officials, and by protecting minority rights.