VOA标准英语2008年-Lawmakers Voice Concerns on US-Russia Nuclear D

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
13 June 2008

Democrats² and Republicans in Congress have voiced concerns to a Bush administration arms control official about a U.S. - Russia civilian³ nuclear cooperation deal. VOA's Dan Robinson report from Capitol Hill, President Bush sent formal notification of the deal in May, giving Congress 90 days within which to block the deal, and lawmakers are concerned the agreement might undermine efforts to limit Iran's nuclear program.

Amid disagreements with Russia over such issues as a European missile shield and Russia's role in Iran, the Bush administration is telling Congress the deal will help counter nuclear proliferation, help long-term U.S. energy needs, and create a climate for greater U.S.-Russian nuclear energy cooperation and trade.

These and other positive points formed the basis of Acting⁴ Undersecretary of State John Rood's testimony⁵ to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Both countries, said Rood, agree on diplomatic efforts to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons, and the need for Iran to suspend sensitive activities under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The Bush administration is pursuing a dual⁶ track strategy combining pressure on Iran with negotiations⁷ and incentives⁸. At the same time, President Bush continues to stress, as he did during a visit to Europe, that military options remain on the table.

Lawmakers are wary⁹ about committing to an agreement with Russia while questions remain about Russian-Iranian cooperation.

Questions focused on what Russia has done and will do to help the United States and partners break the standoff with Iran over its uranium enrichment activities.

California Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee asked Rood about President Bush's latest remark on military options.

Lee: "To continue to say, but I am always going to have the military option should I need it, sort of puts the stain on the diplomatic option as being a first choice."

Rood: "Well, I think our view on that is that we cannot take the military option out of your tool kit¹⁰. That will always remain an option and it should not only for this president but any future president will always, we think, retain this option."

Rood's statement that Russian steps regarding Iran's Bushehr nuclear site, including an agreement to take back spent nuclear fuel, did not impress proliferation expert Henry Sokolski.

"You can make many, many bombs worth of material from Bushehr, and seize that material for chemical reprocessing, and have a bomb in about 10 days," he said. "You would have lots of good material."

Sokolski says the U.S. should insist on suspension of operations at Bushehr, saying Washington has no assurance Iran will not divert fresh or spent fuel to make fuel for nuclear weapons at its declared nuclear plants.

Robert Einhorn of the Center for Strategic and International Studies believes the Russian steps regarding Bushehr, and Moscow's cooperation on U.N. resolutions are positive results of the U.S.-Russia deal, but adds the U.S. needs to continue to exercise leverage¹¹ with Moscow.

"I think it is important to try to incentivize Russia to be more helpful in general, diplomatically and otherwise, to prevent Iran from acquiring an enrichment program, and perhaps the Congress would decide to require the president to report annually¹² on the extent to which Russia is being supportive of efforts inside the Security Council and outside the Security Council to pressure Iran to suspend its enrichment program," said Einhorn.

"We in Congress can insist that any implementation¹³ of the 123 agreement [refers to Section 123 of U.S. Atomic Energy Act] be made with technology that will not produce more material that can be turned into bombs, namely plutonium," said Congressman¹⁴ Dana Rorhabacher, a California Republican. "We have that technological¹⁵ alternative. If we act upon it legislatively¹⁶, this could turn out to be a very positive thing for us."

Lawmaker's comments made clear there is substantial concern about proceeding¹⁷ before a new U.S. president takes office in early 2009.

Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat¹ David Scott.

Wilson: "Wouldn't it be better to wait six months or even a year to see if assurances are actually implemented¹⁸, what would be the down side to waiting a reasonable period of time?"

Scott: "I am very much concerned when we haven't had good experience with Russia cooperating before and I am just wary of giving the store to them when all the evidence [indicates] that I think our kindness will be taken advantage of just as it has been done in the past."

Among the questions lawmakers will have to answer, says House Foreign Affairs chairman Howard Berman,a Democrat from California, is whether the U.S. will have more leverage over Russian polices and behavior toward Iran by implementing¹⁹ the agreement, or by delaying it, or insisting presidential certifications regarding Russian behavior.

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 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

6 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

7 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。

8 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

10 kit   

n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物

参考例句：

• The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
• The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。

11 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

12 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

13 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

14 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

15 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

16 legislatively   

adv.立法地

参考例句：

• Indeed, experience with the legislatively imposed hybrid procedures has not been encouraging. 的确，立法规定的混合型程序的经历并不令人感到鼓舞。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• The criminal pattern kidnapping and killing the kidnapped person is contained and aggravated crime legislatively. 从犯罪形态来看，“杀害被绑架人”的立法属于包容加重犯。 来自互联网

17 proceeding   

n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报

参考例句：

• This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
• The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

18 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

19 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句