VOA常速英语2007-US House of Representatives Calls for Iraq Withd

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
03 October 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution to require President Bush to give Congress a plan to withdraw troops from Iraq. VOA's Dan Robinson reports, the measure which had bipartisan support was the first of what Democrats² say will be a series of bills this month relating to Iraq.

Approved by a vote of 377 to 46, it is the latest effort by Democrats to place Congress on record regarding President Bush's military strategy in Iraq, while not trying to tie the president's hand.

The product of lengthy³ negotiations⁴, the measure requires the president, in coordination⁵ with his secretaries of State and Defense⁶ as well as the military Joint⁷ Chiefs of Staff to develop what it calls a comprehensive strategy to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq.

After having President Bush veto a bill earlier this year that tried to link war funding to a timetable for withdrawal⁸, House Democrats introduced a measure that would mark a renewal⁹ of pressure on the president, while striking a bipartisan tone.

With the legislation, says House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, Congress simply states that it wants to see planning from here on in that it has not seen from the Bush administration in the past:

"It requires that the planning the Pentagon is doing for redeployment from Iraq be shared with Congress, as it should," said Ike Skelton.

Neil Abercrombie is a Hawaii Democrat¹ and one of the co-sponsors of the legislation:

"Republicans alone, Democrats alone, cannot bring this to an end," said Abercrombie. "It requires us all to work together."

In the final vote, only 16 Republicans voted against the measure. Thirty Democrats opposed it, including some of the most outspoken¹⁰ anti-war critics in the party.

Phil English, a Pennsylvania Republican, said it is time Americans heard Congress speak with one voice on legislation dealing¹¹ with Iraq:

"The American people need to know that their representatives are trying to seek out the best policy to protect American interests overseas and reduce our footprint in that troubled country," said English. "The Iraqi government needs to know that the U.S. Congress is not prepared for our nation to carry the burden of defending Iraq's security indefinitely and that that must become an Iraqi undertaking¹²."

Despite the bipartisan vote, Democrats and Republicans remain in conflict over how to proceed with legislation to fund military operations.

Democratic House appropriations¹³ chairman David Obey intends to stall the president's supplemental war funding request of nearly $190 billion, possibly until next February or March.

"I have absolutely no intention of reporting out of committee anytime this session, any such request that simply serves to continue the status quo," said David Obey.

Obey says he remains¹⁴ open to negotiations with the White House on language that could move the supplemental request forward.

Democrats appear to be focusing on an effort to provide short-term funding to sustain military operations as part of regular budget measure for the Pentagon.

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell voiced concern about troop funding in a meeting with reporters Tuesday, saying the Senate will not postpone¹⁵ action on the matter until next year.

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 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

4 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

5 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

6 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。

7 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。

8 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。

9 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

10 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

11 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

12 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

13 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

15 postpone   

v.延期，推迟

参考例句：

• I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
• She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。