VOA常速英语2015--参议员面对伊朗核协议逐渐拿定主意

On Iran Nuclear Pact¹, Undecided Senators Dwindling 参议员面对伊朗核协议逐渐拿定主意

WASHINGTON—

As U.S. lawmakers prepare to return to Washington from a month-long recess², a flurry of senators have announced their positions on the international nuclear accord with Iran. The pact has more than enough support to survive, but still lacks the backing required to prevent Congress from passing an initial resolution of disapproval³.

“Frankly, this is not the agreement I hoped for. I have serious concerns based on Iran’s past behavior of cheating on nuclear agreements," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons of Delaware.

“坦率地讲,这不是我所期望的协议。基于伊朗过去在核协议上的欺骗行为我也表示深切担心。”像许多人一样,特拉华民主党参议员克里斯·孔恩斯对伊朗核协议的表现并非非常兴奋。

He is not wildly enthusiastic about the Iran nuclear deal. But, like most Democrats⁵, he supports it anyway.

但是,也像大多数民主党人一样,他也是站在支持的角度。

“We cannot trust Iran, but this deal, based on distrust, verification, deterrence⁶, and strong, principled multilateral diplomacy⁷, offers us the best opportunity to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon," he said.

“我们不能信任伊朗,但这次的协议是建立在不信任,核实，威慑及强势,多边外交原则基础上,为我们提供最好的机会阻止伊朗发展核武器。”

In recent days, five other Democratic senators issued similar statements of support despite misgivings⁸. New Jersey⁹'s Cory Booker said “It is better to support a deeply flawed deal, for the alternative is far worse.” Mark Warner of Virginia said, “While I choose to support the deal, I am not satisfied with it.”

最近几天, 尽管存在种种疑虑，但其他5位民主党参议员也发表了类似的支持声明。科里·布克说:“支持一项漏洞百出的协议更好,相比之下另一种选择则是更为糟糕。”弗吉尼亚的马克·沃纳说:“当我选择支持这项协议的时候,我其实并不满意。”

Until Friday, only one Democrat⁴, Chuck Schumer of New York, had announced opposition¹⁰ to the deal. Since then, he has been joined by Senators Ben Cardin of Maryland and Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

直到周五,只有一位民主党人，纽约的查克·舒默宣布反对这项协议。从那时起,马里兰州参议员本·卡丁和罗伯特·梅内德斯也加入到了反对的阵营。

“We  know that, despite the fact that Iran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, that they have violated the international will as expressed by various U.N. Security Council resolutions, and by deceit, deception¹¹ and delay advanced their program to the point of being a threshold nuclear state," said Menendez.

“我们知道,尽管伊朗声称其核项目是用作和平目的,但他们违反了联合国安理会通过的国际各种决议,而且一而再再而三的欺骗,拖延他们的项目让自己踏入核大国的行列。”

Given unified¹² Republican opposition to the accord, all eyes are on the remaining handful of Democratic senators yet to announce. Already, there is ample backing to sustain President Barack Obama’s promised veto of a resolution of disapproval from Congress. The undecided senators will determine whether Senate action can be blocked altogether.

假如共和党人统一反对这项协议,还未对此表态余下的一些民主党参议员将会成为人们关注的焦点。已经有足够的支持来维系美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马否决国会批准的承诺。犹豫不决的议员们将决定参议院行动是否会被完全封锁。

“If that happens, the resolution of disapproval won’t reach the president’s desk, and there will be no need to exercise the veto. That’s a tough goal but a possible one," said former U.S. Ambassador Norman Eisen of the Brookings Institution.

“如果有这种情况,不赞成决议不会摆在总统的办公桌上,而且没有必要行使否决权。这是个困难的目标,但有可能实现。”

An initial vote in the House of Representatives could come by week’s end. 

本周末可能会迎来众议院的最初投票。

1 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

2 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

3 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

4 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。

5 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》

6 deterrence   

威慑，制止； 制止物，制止因素； 挽留的事物； 核威慑

参考例句：

• An extreme school of "disarmers" pronounced stable deterrence was a dangerous deception. “裁军论者”中的极端派声称，稳定的威摄是一种危险的骗局。
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

8 misgivings   

n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧

参考例句：

• I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
• Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

10 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

11 deception   

n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计

参考例句：

• He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
• He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。

12 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。