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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Capitol Hill
12 July 2007
Congress is continuing debate on the war in Iraq, as lawmakers react to the Bush administration's interim1 report on political, military and economic benchmarks the United States has set for the Iraqi government. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the House of Representatives is debating a resolution calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal2 by April 2008, as the Senate continues consideration of Iraq amendments3.
As they digested the findings of the administration's interim report on Iraqi government progress, House lawmakers began a debate set for five hours on a troop withdrawal resolution.
The measure demands that most U.S. combat forces leave Iraq by April 1 of next year, with the withdrawal process to begin within 120 days.
In addition, President Bush would have to report to Congress on why U.S. soldiers should remain in Iraq for the purposes of diplomatic protection or training of Iraqi troops.
| Ike Skelton |
"We haven't got time for the waiting game, that is where we are now," he said. "The purpose of this is a matter of readiness, it is a matter of national security, it is a matter that we must face now or else the strain and stretch on our ground forces, particularly our Army and of course the Marines will be beyond repair."
But Republican Duncan Hunter said the new interim report showed there was satisfactory progress in eight of 18 key benchmarks set for the Iraqis.
Congress should not vote to change strategy, Hunter asserted, until the September report from U.S. Iraq commander General David Petraeus and the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker.
"This is an attempt once again to stampede a retreat from Iraq, and it is a gratuitous5 attempt to do this," said Crocker.
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| Tom Lantos |
"With every car bomb that takes civilian6 toll7, every insurgent's bullet that finds it mark, every roadside explosive that maims or kills one of our own brave men and women in uniform, the sacrifices mount and the result is anything but satisfactory," said Lantos.
Calling the Democrat's withdrawal resolution a public relations victory for [U.S.] enemies, House minority leader John Boehner described the interim report, which he noted8 comes after less than one month of the U.S. military surge, as a positive development.
"But we need to see more progress from the Iraqi people and their government on key political benchmarks, where progress has been unsatisfactory to date," said Boehner.
As the House moved toward a vote on its resolution, the Senate continued debate on various Iraq-related amendments, including one similar to the House Democrat's April 2008 withdrawal target.
| Rep. Harry Reid (16 Feb 2007) |
"We are going to continue to work with Democrats10 and Republicans, those who have spoken out, against the policy in Iraq," he said. "We would hope that they would start voting the right way, rather than just talking the right way."
In his comments accompanying the release of the progress report, President Bush reiterated11 his view that the U.S. can still succeed in Iraq.
The president has promised to veto any legislation reaching his desk that contains a timetable for withdrawal, and would likely have enough support on Capitol Hill to sustain a veto.
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1
interim
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| adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间 | |
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withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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3
amendments
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| （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 | |
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Congressman
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| n.（美）国会议员 | |
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gratuitous
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| adj.无偿的，免费的；无缘无故的，不必要的 | |
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civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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democrats
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| n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
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reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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