2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Administration Faces More Tough Quest

By Dan Robinson
Washington
02 March 2006 

watch Port Security report 

Cargo¹ ship is unloaded at Maryland's port of Baltimore  
  
Bush administration officials faced more tough questions Wednesday from Democrats² and Republicans over the pending³ U.S. ports management deal in which Dubai Ports World, based in the United Arab Emirates, would take over management of six major U.S. ports.

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Another day of controversy⁴ underscored in a dramatic way how extensively opposition⁵ to the ports issue crosses political lines, and how difficult it will be for President Bush to avert⁶ more political damage from the matter.

Dubai Ports World has agreed to delay its actual management takeover at ports in New York City, New Jersey⁷, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans, to allow for a new 45-day review period.

Critics accuse the Bush administration of failing to thoroughly⁸ investigate potential national security implications of the deal, a charge key government officials strongly deny.

Appearing at a House of Representatives hearing, Deputy Treasury⁹ Secretary Robert Kimmitt reiterated¹⁰ the government position that the deal was thoroughly vetted¹¹. "In contrast to some accounts, this transaction was not rushed through the review process in early February, nor was it casual and cursory," he said.

Michael Jackson, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Homeland Security added that "we had an adequate amount of time, a fully¹² structured and resourced review of this matter."

The officials faced tough questions from lawm akers asking why aspects of the ports deal, and questions about United Arab Emirates policies toward Israel among other issues, did not trigger a more exhaustive initial review.

Republican Congresswoman Deborah Pryce says she is troubled by administration statements about the need to balance security concerns with the need to maintain global trade. "To me, and to many Americans, that statement implied that there are aspects of our nation's security that must be sacrificed at the altar of free trade. That is something that I fundamentally reject," he said.

Opposition Democrats are trying to portray¹³ the ports issue as another example of what they call secretive Bush administration management and neglect of homeland security concerns.

They devoted¹⁴ a weekly strategy meeting to the ports issue, after which Congressman¹⁵ Ed Markey had these comments. "It is part of a pattern where, whether it be chemical plants, nuclear plants, cargo, airlines, the Bush administration has allowed the industries to decide how much security is provided for the American people rather than having our government decide how much security they need," he said.

Government officials strongly deny such allegations, and insist the ports deal received an intensive review by a special multi-agency committee on foreign investment.

James Glassman, of the American Enterprise Institute, calls the intense reaction to the ports deal out of proportion to the possible risks involved. "Obviously we are all deeply troubled by the national security implications of this transaction, particularly because it was not given the highest level of priority, it was not given the highest level of consideration by the highest levels of leadership in our government," he said.

However, Congressman Peter King, the Republican chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed skepticism about what he calls changing stories from the administration.

Senate Republicans joined Democrats in urging Congress to scrupulously¹⁶ review the ports deal. "Obviously we are all deeply troubled by the national security implications of this transaction, particularly because it was not given the highest level of priority," said Olympia Snowe, a Maine Republican:

Officials told lawmakers that after the new 45-day review of the Dubai Ports World deal, a report will be sent to Congress.

However, Democrats want the Republican-controlled Congress, as part of an effort to assert oversight¹⁷ powers, to pass legislation placing a hold on the ports management takeover, and formally ordering a 45-day review.

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

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 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 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。

6 avert   

v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等)

参考例句：

• He managed to avert suspicion.他设法避嫌。
• I would do what I could to avert it.我会尽力去避免发生这种情况。

7 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。

8 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

9 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

10 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

11 vetted   

v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的过去式和过去分词 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• The recruits were thoroughly vetted before they were allowed into the secret service. 情报机关招募的新成员要经过严格的审查。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All staff are vetted for links with extremist groups before being employed. 所有职员录用前均须审查是否与极端分子团体有关。 来自辞典例句

12 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

13 portray   

v.描写，描述；画(人物、景象等)

参考例句：

• It is difficult to portray feelings in words.感情很难用言语来描写。
• Can you portray the best and worst aspects of this job?您能描述一下这份工作最好与最坏的方面吗？

14 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• 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。

15 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。

16 scrupulously   

adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地

参考例句：

• She toed scrupulously into the room. 她小心翼翼地踮着脚走进房间。 来自辞典例句
• To others he would be scrupulously fair. 对待别人，他力求公正。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史

17 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。