President Bush Praises US Troops, Their Families

In his weekly radio address, President Bush thanked U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families for their sacrifices. "This Christmas, many will sit down for dinner thinking of their loved ones half a world away. These families deserve the thanks and the prayers of our whole nation."

The president also gave special thanks to military families who work in various ways to support the troops, even after losing loved ones.

In the Democrats' radio address, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed frustration at where he says the United States is headed. "We took steps to secure our country from terrorism, but bin Laden remains free, al-Qaida is growing stronger and the president's focus on Iraq has allowed conditions in Afghanistan to deteriorate."

U.S., NATO and Afghan forces have faced a dramatic spike in Taliban attacks in Afghanistan during the past two years. But on the war in Iraq, U.S. officials say American combat brigades could be reduced by half, if current security gains allow for the drawdown to continue at its current pace.

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在总统的每周电台演讲中，布什总统感谢驻扎于伊拉克和阿富汗的官兵以及他们的家人所作出的牺牲。“这个圣诞节，许多人会在聚餐时想起那些已逝的所爱之人。这些家庭值得我们整个国家对他们感谢和祈祷的。”

总统也为那些即使在逝去亲人之后，仍然以各种方式支持军队的家庭给予了特别的感谢。

在民主党电台演讲中，参议院多数党领导人哈瑞•雷德对美国现在正进行的（事情）表达了失望之情。“我们采取措施保证我国不受恐怖主义干扰，但是本•拉登仍然自由，基地组织在逐渐壮大，并且总统对伊拉克的关注使阿富汗局势更为恶化。”

在过去两年，美国北约组织和阿富汗军队在阿富汗面临塔利班组织大规模攻击。但是，在伊拉克战争中，美国官方说如果现行安全措施进一步允许削减开支，美国战斗部队可能锐减至一半。