CNN 2009-12-03

The president laid out his strategy, but Congress wants to find out more about the mission. Right now, the Senate Arm Services Committee is hearing testimony¹ in fact on Afghanistan. We listened earlier to Defense² Secretary Robert Gates, we are now watching Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifying right now. Tomorrow, Secretary Gates and Joint³ Chiefs Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen head over to the House Arm Services Committee. So we will be watching all of that. In the meantime, joining me right now are two members of that committee, both also had unique perspectives on the mission. Republican Representative Duncan Hunter of California served in Iraq and Afghanistan as an officer in the marine⁴ court. Democratic Representative Joe Sestak, served 31 years, and retired⁵ as an admiral. He ran battle group operations in Afghanistan, now running for senate. They both are joining me from Capitol Hill this morning. Heck of an intro, guys!

Thanks for being here. We sure do appreciate it. I know you were all ears last night to the president's speech and the new plan for Afghanistan. Let me begin with you, Congressman⁶ Sestak. Listen with me if you would to a portion of the speech last night. Clue the main point of the entire address. And I will get your comment on the backside here.

And as Commander-in-Chief, I have determined⁷ that it is in our vital national interest to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan. After 18 months, our troops will begin to come home.  These are the resources that we need to seize the initiative, while building the Afghan capacity that can allow for a responsible transition of our forces out of Afghanistan.  

Representative Sestak as a former commander, an admiral as we've said in the navy. How do you feel about a Commander-in-Chief pointing out the mission, sending troops over, and that at the same time telling them they will be coming back 18 months later, can you do that?

I think this president made two things very clear. Very first off, he said this is really if you read the speech, not about Afghanistan, it's about Pakistan and the safe haven⁸ for Al-Qaeda in that country. Second, he is telling the Afghanis that there is going to be a deadline by which we will begin pulling our troops out and you will accept responsibility. But he did not say when we would have all the troops out. I believe a better approach also would be to provide a benchmark by which we might measure success and failure. So we know how…

1 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

2 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。

3 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

5 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

6 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。