2007年VOA标准英语-US Senate Democrat Offers Plan to Begin Pulling

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
10 July 2007

A key Senate Democrat¹ has introduced legislation calling for the withdrawal² of U.S. troops from Iraq to begin within 120 days. Senator Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says setting a timeline for a troop pullout is the only way to press Iraqi leaders to make the necessary compromises toward establishing a stable government. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

Jack3 Reed, D-R.I., discusses legislation to change the course of the war in Iraq during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 10 July 2007 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070712/1101330.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Sen. Carl Levin, (l), accompanied by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., discusses legislation to change the course of the war in Iraq during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 10 July 2007

Senator Levin introduced his amendment⁴ as part of a defense⁵ policy bill.

"Without setting a date to begin the phased reduction of troops, a phased redeployment of troops, there is much too little pressure on the Iraqi leaders to do what they can only do, which is to work out a political settlement," he said.

Levin says Iraqi leaders have done little to make the compromises required to establish a unity⁶ government.

Under Levin's amendment, U.S. combat operations would cease by the end of April of next year. Some U.S. troops would remain in Iraq to continue training Iraqi forces and fight terrorism.

Levin introduced his legislation as a growing number of senior Republican lawmakers have publicly broken with President Bush and called for a new direction in Iraq, one that would reduce U.S. combat troops there.

But it is not clear whether these senators will back Levin's amendment. Their support is crucial for the measure's passage.

Sen. John McCain talks with reporters on Capitol Hill, 10 July  2007

Senator John McCain, an Arizona Republican who just returned from a trip to Iraq, argued against the measure.

"We must recognize that no lasting⁷ political settlement can grow out of a U.S. withdrawal," he said. "On the contrary, a withdrawal must grow out of a political solution, a solution made possible by the imposition of security by coalition⁸ and Iraqi forces."

But Senator Joe Biden, a Delaware Democrat and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questions whether that political solution envisioned by the Bush administration is possible in Iraq.

Joseph Biden (file photo)

"Their entire premise⁹, as I said, is based on a fundamentally flawed premise: that they can build a competent, popular supported government, based upon a consensus¹⁰ of the three parties, and it resides in Baghdad," he said. "That is the central flaw in their strategy. It cannot be sustained. The hard truth is that absent a foreign occupation or a dictator, Iraq cannot be run from the center."

The Senate is debating U.S. strategy in Iraq as the Bush administration is preparing to send Congress an interim¹¹ report about Iraq by Sunday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who postponed¹² a trip to Latin America this week, is meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill ahead of the report's release.

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 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。

3 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

4 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

5 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。

6 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

11 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

12 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

13 override   

vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于

参考例句：

• The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
• I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。

14 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。