调查：多数美国人反对军事打击叙利亚

 　　WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The majority of Americans still oppose launching military strikes against Syria while the Obama administration is trying hard to secure lawmakers' support, according to an ABC News-Washington Post poll released Tuesday.

　　The latest poll found that 59 percent of Americans are against a missile strike in Syria in light of the U.S. government's determination that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons against its own people. Only 36 percent of Americans support the kind of military action for what the Obama administration is now seeking Congressional authorization¹.

　　The opposition² against such military actions in Syria has been observed across the board. A total of 54 percent of Democrats³, 55 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of political independents say "No" to U.S. government launching missile strikes against Syrian government, showing deep opposition among every political group.

　　Americans would express more support for the military actions if Britain and France were to participate, with the support for missile strikes in Syria rising by 10 percentage points to 46 percent. But the prospect⁴ has become less likely after the British parliament voted down a proposal for military intervention⁵ in Syria last week.

　　The U.S. public showed even less support for the U.S. and its allies supplying weapons to the opposition groups in Syria, with 70 percent opposing such an action and only 27 percent supporting.

　　The poll was conducted by telephone Aug. 28 through Sept. 1, among 1,012 adults.

　　The White House is currently trying to win over lawmakers to support military strikes against Syria this week. President Barack Obama on Tuesday morning met with Congressional leaders and Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense⁶ Chuck Hagel appeared at a Senate hearing to make the case for military actions.

　　Bipartisan leaders on the Capitol Hill, including House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, all pledged their support for a proposed military strike.

1 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

5 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

6 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。