2007年VOA标准英语-US Senate Rejects Measure to Cut Off Funding fo

By Deborah Tate
Washington
20 September 2007

The U.S. Senate has rejected, by a 28 to 70 vote, a Democratic-sponsored measure to withdraw troops from Iraq and cut funding for the war. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

The measure, proposed as an amendment² to a defense³ bill, called for most U.S. troops to withdraw from Iraq by next June and cutting off financing for military operations.

Senator Russ Feingold, a Wisconsin Democrat¹ who sponsored the legislation, argued the war in Iraq is taking attention and resources away from the larger global war on terrorism.

"What I am concerned about is that a continued effort in Iraq could lead to the ultimate failure to fight against those who attacked us on 9/11. It could lead to a surrender, a true surrender, against those who declared war on us on September 11th, 2001," he said.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, argued strongly against the proposal, which he said would result in defeat for the United States. He said President Bush's troops surge in Iraq should be allowed more time to work, noting that the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, told Congress last week that the surge has been making progress.

"Should the United States Congress succeed in terminating the new strategy by legislating⁴ an abrupt⁵ withdrawal⁶ on a transition to a new, less effective and more dangerous course, should we do that, then we will fail for certain," he said.

The defeat of the Feingold measure was not unexpected. The Senate rejected a similar proposal in May. Most lawmakers oppose cutting funding for the war effort, concerned that that would harm the troops.

The vote comes a day after Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan measure to allow troops more time at their home bases between deployments. It was embraced by Senate Democratic leaders as a modest step toward changing the course of the war, as it could have affected⁷ troop levels. But the proposal failed to receive the necessary 60 votes to cut off debate and move the legislation to a final vote. The action makes it unlikely that other legislative⁸ measures aimed at changing the direction of the Iraq war will succeed.

Senate Majority Leader Harry⁹ Reid, a Nevada Democrat, argues that Republicans "are more concerned about protecting President Bush than the troops."

"What we are seeing here on this issue, the issue of the war on Iraq, is a far cry from deliberation. It is obstructionism, strictly¹⁰ outright¹¹ obstructionism," he said.

Republicans defend their position, saying now is not the time to change course in Iraq when the troop surge is making progress.

The Senate Friday is to vote on a measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, that would change the mission of U.S. troops in Iraq from combat to training Iraqi forces.

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 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。

3 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。

4 legislating   

v.立法，制定法律( legislate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Why are the senators sitting there without legislating? 为什么那些议员们做在那里不立法？ 来自互联网
• From legislating and protecting peasant's interests organizationally. " 从立法和组织上保护农民利益。 来自互联网

5 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

6 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。

7 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

9 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。

10 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

11 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。