2006年VOA标准英语-Key Iraq War Critic Renews Call for US Wit

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
17 May 2006
 
A key congressional war critic has renewed his call for U.S. troops to leave Iraq and transfer responsibility for security to Iraqis. The comments by Pennsylvania Democrat¹ John Murtha came as Defense² Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was pressed during an appearance before a Senate committee on prospects³ for a U.S. withdrawal⁴.

-----------------------------------------------

Last year the pro-defense lawmaker took the Bush administration by surprise when he came out publicly in support of withdrawing U.S. forces, a process he described as redeployment.

Six months later, Congressman⁵ Murtha says conditions on the ground in Iraq are no better, and accuses President Bush and others of whitewashing⁶ the situation.

"While the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate⁷, this administration says things are going very, very well," he said. "They want to sanitize this war and put a positive spin on things. And they ignore the real story."

 

 
Rep. John Murtha at Capitol Hill news conference, May 17, 2006 
  
Congressman Murtha says U.S. forces are under great strain and predicts by the time another six months pass, the situation will be even worse.

The Bush administration, he says, needs to lay out a plan.

"I think we have to have a plan from the executive branch which shows a timetable to get out, and it has to be a short timetable," he said.

The latest Murtha criticisms came as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was pressed by two Senate critics on the question of the timing⁸ of a significant U.S. troop reduction.

"The American people want to know when our forces, currently in harm's way in Iraq, are going to be out of harm's way, redeployed to a safe location outside of Iraq and you have said no, it won't happen this year," said Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.

"I did not, you're not listening carefully, I did not say it will not happen this year," Rumsfeld replied.

"Well, speak clearly and I will listen carefully," Durbin said.

"I did not say it will not happen this year, I said I hoped it will happen this year but I can't promise it," said the defense secretary.

 
Donald Rumsfeld testifies on Capitol Hill, May 17, 2006 
  
Secretary Rumsfeld said there has been what he called a shift in weight in Iraq in the roles U.S. and coalition⁹ forces are playing toward training and equipping of Iraqi military and security forces.

This was supported by Joint¹⁰ Chiefs Chairman General Peter Pace who said about 25 percent of Iraq is now under the control of Iraqi forces, an area that includes half of Baghdad.

But in clarifying an earlier response to another member of the Senate panel, General Pace said it would not be possible within the next three months to remove both U.S. and coalition forces from any single Iraqi province.

That brought this response from Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan.

"I understand the importance of all of this, but I do think we have had a lot of discussion for a long time of how much progress we're making, and yet [in] none of the territories that you have described would we be able to bring American troops out of the territory and turn the territory, the province completely over to the Iraqi troops," he said.

The contrasting views on the situation in Iraq come as House and Senate lawmakers continue difficult negotiations¹¹ on the latest supplemental spending bill containing funds for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
 

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 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。

3 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

4 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。

5 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。

6 whitewashing   

粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的现在分词 )； 喷浆

参考例句：

• Tom went on whitewashing the fence, paying no attention to Ben. 汤姆没有理睬本，继续在粉刷着篱笆。
• When whitewashing the wall, he painted with a roller in his hand. 刷墙的时候，他手里拿个辊子，挥舞着胳膊。

7 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

8 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

10 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

11 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。