VOA标准英语2009年-Obama's Choice to Lead Veteran's Department Vow

President-elect Barack Obama's nominee¹ to head the Veterans Affairs Department says, if confirmed, he will work to streamline² the agency to better respond to the needs of U.S. troops returning home from war. Retired³ Army General Eric Shinseki, who had clashed with the Bush administration over its initial handling of the war in Iraq, made his comments at a Senate confirmation⁴ hearing Wednesday.
　
Veterans Affairs Secretary-designate retired General Eric Shinseki testifies on Capitol Hill, 14 Jan 2009

General Shinskeki told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee that if confirmed by the Senate he would work to accelerate the processing of veterans' health and disability claims, which currently face a six-month backlog⁵.

"It is our charge to address their changing needs over time and across a full range of support that our government has committed to providing them," he said.

Shinseki's nomination⁶ comes at a time of new challenges for the Veterans Affairs Department. Many severely⁷ wounded and disabled veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in need of prosthetic devices to replace amputated limbs, or long term care for injuries that will last a lifetime. Others face less obvious wounds, including post-traumatic stress disorder⁸ or traumatic brain injury.

The 66-year-old Shinseki was the Army's first four-star general of Japanese-American descent. He made headlines in the run-up to the Iraq war when he told Congress that it might take several hundred thousand U.S. troops to control that country following an invasion. The testimony⁹ came under public criticism from then-Secretary of Defense¹⁰ Donald Rumsfeld, and Shinseki retired soon afterward¹¹.

Many have argued Shinseki was vindicated¹² when President George Bush announced a "troop surge" in Iraq in 2007.

Senator Daniel Inouye, a Hawaii Democrat¹³ and decorated World War II veteran, praised Shinseki's candor¹⁴ at Wednesday's hearing.

"He told the truth," he said. "It wasn't easy. And in so doing, took a position contrary to his commander in chief. His honest assessment¹⁵ that more troops would be needed cost him his job. But it is the surest measure of his fitness to serve as a member of the Cabinet."

Shinseki understands the sacrifices faced by war veterans. He lost part of his right foot while serving in the Vietnam War, and earned two Purple Hearts.

His nomination has won praise from veterans groups and lawmakers from both parties. He is expected to be easily confirmed soon after President-elect Obama takes the oath of office next week.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 backlog   

n.积压未办之事

参考例句：

• It will take a month to clear the backlog of work.要花一个月的时间才能清理完积压的工作。
• Investment is needed to reduce the backlog of repairs.需要投资来減轻积压的维修工作。

6 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

7 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

8 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

9 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。

10 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。

11 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

12 vindicated   

v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护

参考例句：

• I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
• Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 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。

14 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

15 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？