2006年VOA标准英语-Verbal Battles Continue Over US Intelligence Do

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
26 September 2006

Democrats² and Republicans in Congress continue to spar over the controversy³ sparked by a leaked U.S. intelligence document that describes the Iraq war as having increased the threat of terrorism. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, Democratic House leaders failed in an attempt to call an unusual secret session to discuss the report, key conclusions of which have now been released by the White House.

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Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi came to the House floor to call for the special secret session.

"[To call for a] secret session on the reported intelligence assessment⁴ that the war in Iraq is hindering our global efforts against terrorism," she said.

"Persuant to clause nine of rule 17 of the House of Representatives, Ms. Pelosi moves that the House be cleared of all persons except the members, delegates, resident commissioner⁵ and officers of the House to consider communications which she believes should be kept secret for the present," said the House clerk.

The move underscores the heated political atmosphere in which the National Intelligence Estimate document emerged, first in a report by The New York Times, days before lawmakers adjourn⁶ to prepare for mid-term elections.

Republicans accuse Democrats of playing politics with national security by highlighting limited portions of the intelligence report.

 
George W. Bush, Sept. 26, 2006
In announcing declassification⁷ of the report's key conclusions, President Bush asserted that those who leaked it did so for political purposes.

The Democratic maneuver⁸ was voted down by the Republican-controlled House 217 to 171. Shortly after the vote, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert came to the microphone and expressed his support for making key parts of the document public.

"You know, people leaked [that] information out, so you ought to focus, instead of hearing [the] 'improper⁹' or [drawing judgments¹⁰ on] leaked information, [you] ought to see the whole truth," he said.

Appearing at the same podium seconds later, Democrat¹ Congressman¹¹ Ike Skelton said the report is proof Bush administration strategies in Iraq exacerbated¹² the threat of terrorism and weakened the U.S. military.

"The question before us is are we safer for our efforts in Iraq? We are not," he said.

 
John Negroponte (file photo)
The director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, has denied the intelligence report findings show the Iraq war increased terrorist threats, saying the document was a broad assessment of global threats.

But Democrats such as Jane Harman point to a sentence in a Negroponte speech Monday as supporting what they and other critics have been saying about administration policy.

"Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, said in a speech last night, quote: 'The Iraq jihad is shaping a new generation of terrorist leaders and operatives' unquote," she said. "This is an acknowledgement that the Iraq war, contrary to the president's assertions, has failed to make us safer."

The Democrats did not mention another part of Negroponte's speech, in which he said that the failure of jihadists in Iraq, or a perception of failure, would mean fewer fighters being recruited, underscoring the importance of the outcome there.

With mid-term elections coming in November, Republicans are urging Americans not to jump to conclusions based on portions of the intelligence report known so far. However, Democrats are seeking full declassification of the report, saying voters deserve to see it in its entirety so they can make judgments about U.S. efforts in Iraq.
 
 

1 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

2 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》

3 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

4 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

5 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

6 adjourn   

v.（使）休会，（使）休庭

参考例句：

• The motion to adjourn was carried.休会的提议通过了。
• I am afraid the court may not adjourn until three or even later.我担心法庭要到3点或更晚时才会休庭。

7 declassification   

n.不再当机密文件处理，从机密表删除

参考例句：

• Technology of GCD is the combination of grid computing and declassification. 网格密码破解技术 (GCD)是网格计算理论和密码暴力破解需求的结合。 来自互联网
• Its essential is how to determine the reasonable allocating among all parts of the declassification system. 该问题的实质就是如何确定到解系统各部分的合理配置关系。 来自互联网

8 maneuver   

n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略

参考例句：

• All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。
• I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

9 improper   

adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的

参考例句：

• Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
• Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。

10 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

11 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。

12 exacerbated   

v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The symptoms may be exacerbated by certain drugs. 这些症状可能会因为某些药物而加重。
• The drugs they gave her only exacerbated the pain. 他们给她吃的药只是加重了她的痛楚。 来自《简明英汉词典》