12-07-2005

布希稱伊拉克已取得驚人進步 (Bush Cites "Amazing Progress" in Iraq Ahead of Elections)

美國總統布希星期三在華盛頓的一次講話中為他的伊拉克政策進行了辯護。他在講話中著重談到了伊拉克在經濟上取得的進步。布希說，伊拉克人在過去的兩年半裏取得了驚人的進步。他說，下星期即將舉行的選舉就是這種進步的一個標誌。

布希總統的講話是他近來發表的一系列講話中的第二次。這些講話目的在於解釋美國政府制定的伊拉克戰爭制勝策略。目前布希在民意調查中的支援率掉到了最低點。部份原因是伊拉克戰爭不太受歡迎。布希總統重點談到盟軍和伊拉克政府在納傑夫的工作。他把這些工作稱為伊拉克的穩步進展。

布希指出，2003年，納傑夫被一支暴力民兵隊伍控制，地方經濟遭到破壞，但是在盟軍和伊拉克部隊發動攻擊並於2004年夏天迫使這些民兵放下武器之後，這座什葉派聖城已經開始重建。重建工作包括改善供水系統，重建住房和振興經濟。

布希承認，目前還存在一些問題，例如安全威脅和缺少穩定的電力供應等。但是他指出，居民們親眼看到了進展，所以他們在民主和專制兩者間選擇了民主。

布希總統說，美國正在調整在伊拉克的重建努力，把精力集中在規模比較小的地方項目上，以便取得迅速和看得到的進展。

布希承認，重建工作的進展不總像他希望的那樣順利，主要原因在於他所說的薩達姆分子和恐怖分子的暴力攻擊。

布希說，美國正在幫助伊拉克政府扭轉持續了幾十年的經濟下滑趨勢。他指出，前伊拉克領導人薩達姆.侯賽因無視國家的資源，浪費了人民的才智和精力。

President Bush is defending his Iraq policy in a speech in Washington focusing on economic progress in the country. Mr. Bush said Iraqis have made amazing progress over the past two-and-a-half-years, and cited next week's election as a sign of that progress.

The president's speech is the second in a series aimed at explaining his administration's strategy to win the war in Iraq.

Mr. Bush's approval ratings have dipped to record lows, in part due to the unpopularity of the Iraq war. President Bush highlighted the work of coalition forces and the Iraqi government in the city of Najaf as an example of what he called steady progress in Iraq. 

The president said the city fell under the control of a violent militia in 2003, devastating the local economy. But after coalition and Iraqi troops battled the militia and forced it to disarm in the summer of 2004, the Shi'ite holy city has since begun rebuilding.

He said reconstruction efforts include improving water systems, rebuilding homes and boosting the economy.

Mr. Bush acknowledged that problems remain, including security threats and the lack of sustained electric power. But he said because residents have witnessed progress, they are choosing democracy over tyranny.

President Bush said the United States is adapting its reconstruction efforts in Iraq to focus on smaller, local projects that can deliver rapid, noticeable improvement.

Mr. Bush acknowledged the reconstruction has not always gone as well as he might have hoped, largely because of violent attacks by what he called Saddamists and terrorists.

He said America is helping the Iraqi government reverse decades of economic decline. He said former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had neglected the country's resources and squandered the talent and energy of its people.

巴格達法庭繼續缺席審判薩達姆 (Saddam's Trial Resumes without Him in Court)

巴格達法庭對薩達姆的審判在這位前獨裁者缺席的情況下繼續進行。薩達姆拒絕出席今天對他和他的7名同案人的公開聽證而致使開庭拖延。

在星期二審判結束的時候，薩達姆說，他將不出席他所稱的“不公正的法庭”，還叫主審法官“見鬼去”。

The trial of Saddam Hussein has resumed at a Baghdad court without the presence of the former Iraqi dictator. Saddam's refusal to attend delayed today's public hearing in the case against him and his seven co-defendants.

At the end of Tuesday's session, Saddam said he would not attend what he called an "unjust court" and told the judge to "go to hell."