2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Faces Mounting Pressure to Change Iraq Str

By Bill Rodgers
Washington
10 July 2007
 

President Bush is facing mounting pressure to change his Iraq policy as the U.S. Senate begins debate on military spending priorities. The pressure is not just coming from opposition¹ Democrats², but from some senior Republican lawmakers who have publicly abandoned the Bush administration's current strategy in Iraq.  VOA's Bill Rodgers reports.

Democrats in the Senate plan to introduce a series of anti-war amendments³ to try to force the administration to change its strategy in Iraq.  The amendments are expected to include measures to cut off funding for combat operations after April of next year and to impose new readiness requirements for U.S. troops.

Harry4 Reid " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070712/1038250.jpg" width="195" vspace="2" border="0" />

Rep. Harry Reid

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid says the mission needs to change. "No one is calling for a precipitous withdrawal⁵ from Iraq, no one.  I say that this is a situation where there has to be a change in policy."

The move comes as senior Republican senators -- such as Pete Domenici of New Mexico -- have broken with the administration over its Iraq policy.

"I'm unwilling⁶ to continue our current strategy when the Iraqi government fails to advance the interests of the Iraqi people," Senator Domenici said.

The growing pressure is reportedly causing an internal debate at the White House over whether Mr. Bush should try to prevent more Republican defections by announcing a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from parts of Baghdad and other cities.

Tony Snow (June, 2007 photo)

But White House spokesman Tony Snow on Monday dismissed that possibility. "No, there's no plan. Again, ultimately, the president wants to withdraw troops based on the facts on the ground, not on the matter of politics."

The administration is scheduled to provide a report to Congress by July 15th on the progress the Iraqi government is making.  Defense⁷ Secretary Robert Gates has cancelled a trip to Latin America to work on the report.

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, (file photo) 18 Jun 2007

In Iraq, a top official warned that a quick withdrawal of U.S. troops could lead to civil war.  Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Iraqi troops are not ready to police the country on their own.  

Meanwhile, there were more bombings in Baghdad neighborhoods Monday -- and more casualties. The continuing violence frustrates⁸ many Iraqis.

One Iraqi said, "I swear by God we are fed up with this situation.  The government needs to find a solution to such problems."

Violence in Iraq in recent days has killed more than 250 people, and left scores of others wounded. 

1 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。

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 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

5 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

6 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

7 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。

8 frustrates   

v.使不成功( frustrate的第三人称单数 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• What frustrates him is that there's too little money to spend on the project. 使他懊恼的是，可用于这个项目的资金太少。
• His trouble is that he frustrates much easily. 他的毛病是很容易泄气。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》