2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Urges Patience on Iraq
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By Paula WolfsonWhite House
10 May 2007
President Bush is under increased pressure from members of his own political party to show positive results in Iraq. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, where the president met behind closed doors with concerned Republicans from the House of Representatives.
| President Bush (center) seated between Defense Secretary Robert Gates (l) and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, at the start of their meeting at the Pentagon, 10 May 2007 |
Eleven congressional Republicans - all of them considered political moderates - came to the White House Wednesday for a private meeting to share their concerns with the president.
The meeting was not on Mr. Bush's published schedule, and did not become public until congressional participants decided4 to speak to the media. Among them was Congressman5 Tom Davis of Virginia.
"The president listened," he said. "He was engaged. This was not a suck-up session [an attempt to curry6 favor], but this was very, very candid7."
The 11 lawmakers delivered what they called a blunt warning to the president. They said while they would support the administration in the current fight over war funding, their long term support for the war is in question.
They said there must be progress in Iraq soon, and expressed frustration8 not only with the continued high level of violence, but with the slow pace of action by the Iraqi government.
The White House initially9 declined to respond to questions about Wednesday's meeting. But the president did comment early Thursday during a visit to the Pentagon.
"They expressed their opinions," he said. "They are obviously concerned about the Iraq war."
Mr. Bush said he had a good exchange with the Republican delegation10. He said he told them to be patient, and give his new Iraq strategy time to be implemented11.
"I said why don't we wait and see what happens," he said. "Let's give this plan a chance to work, and stop playing politics."
The president noted12 that sectarian killings13 have declined since U.S. troops stepped up their presence in Baghdad and al-Anbar province. But he said attacks by al-Qaida in Iraq are likely to rise because the terrorists feel threatened.
"As we have surged our forces, al-Qaida is responding with their own surge," the president said. "Al-Qaida is ratcheting up its campaign of high-profile attacks, including deadly suicide bombings carried out by foreign terrorists."
The president said U.S. and coalition14 forces will strike back. He said despite the bloodshed, he remains15 convinced the war is necessary, and noble.
