2007年VOA标准英语-Lawmakers Express Opposition to US Troop Increa

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
10 January 2007

As President Bush prepares to announce a temporary increase of some 21,000 American troops to Iraq, many U.S. lawmakers are expressing renewed opposition¹ to such a plan. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

Congressional Democrats² are making clear they will oppose any short-term surge of U.S. troops to Iraq.

 
Harry³ Reid 
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Democrats remain skeptical⁴ about the effectiveness of sending more troops to Iraq.

"Democrats for certain question in some detail what the additional troops would do," he said. "Speaking for me, I am at a loss as to what will happen with these additional troops."

Reid was among top congressional leaders who met with President Bush at the White House just hours before the president's address to the nation.

Democratic leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives plan to hold symbolic⁵ votes on the troop surge proposal to highlight the lack of support for the plan. Many Democrats have called for a phased troop withdrawal⁶ from Iraq.

Although the Democratic majority could withhold⁷ funding for a troop increase, Democratic leaders signaled they would not go that far.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "Democrats will always support our troops."

Republican leaders, meanwhile, emerged from the White House meeting praising the president's new strategy.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, said, "I think the administration has put together a good plan. It is our best shot at victory in Iraq, and I think that is what the American people want and expect."

 
Norman Coleman (file photo)
But not all Republicans agree. Speaking on the Senate floor just moments earlier was Republican Senator Norman Coleman.

"I refuse to put more American lives on the line in Baghdad without being assured that the Iraqis themselves are willing to do what they need to do to end the violence of Iraqi against Iraqi," he said.

"If Iraq is to fulfill⁸ its role as a sovereign and democratic state, it must start acting⁹ like one. It is for this reason that I oppose the proposal for a troop surge in Baghdad, where violence can only be definded as sectarian," he added.

Top Bush administration officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense¹⁰ Secretary Robert Gates, will seek congressional support for the new strategy in a series of hearings on Capitol Hill Thursday.

1 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。

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 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

4 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

5 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

6 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。

7 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

8 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

9 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。

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。