2007年VOA标准英语-US Lawmakers Begin Debate on President's Iraq T

By Dan Robinson
Washington
13 February 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives has begun the first major congressional debate on President Bush's Iraq strategy since Democrats¹ won control of Congress in last November's mid-term election. VOA's Dan Robinson reports lawmakers began the first of three days of debate on a non-binding resolution disapproving² of President Bush's decision to send additional troops to Iraq.

Democrats are getting the full-scale debate on the president's Iraq policies they say Republicans largely avoided when they controlled the House. While voicing disapproval³ of the additional troop deployment⁴ to Iraq, the Democratic-crafted resolution states that Congress and the American people will continue to support and protect U.S. troops who are serving or have served in Iraq.

 
Nancy Pelosi
"In the spirit of responsibility to our troops, and the patriotism⁵ we all share, let us consider whether the president's escalation⁶ proposal will lessen⁷ the violence in Iraq, and bring our troops home safely and soon," said Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Minority leader John Boehner says the resolution amounts to criticism of the mission of U.S. troops, and describes the debate as a choice between victory in Iraq and the wider war on terrorism, and defeat.

"Many of my friends across the aisle⁸ think this is exactly what we should do, give up and leave. This non-binding resolution is the first step toward abandoning Iraq by cutting off funding for our troops that are in harm's way," he said.

 
Steny Hoyer (file photo)

That brings this response from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer who says it should be clear to Americans that Democrats do not support any move that would result in putting troops at risk.

"The Republicans are trying to make the argument that this is about the fight on terrorism. Let me make it very clear that Democrats are absolutely committed to winning the war against those who would employ terrorism to hurt our people and to put at risk our country. Period," he said.

But the Democratic leadership supports steps to link dollars in President Bush's $93 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan to specific requirements that military units be fully⁹ prepared, in terms of training and equipment.

House Speaker Pelosi appeared to refer to this when she said a statement of disapproval when the House votes on Friday will "set the stage" for additional Iraq-related legislation.

Controlling the House with a 233 to 202 majority, Democratic leaders hope to get at least 25 and possibly as many as 60 Republicans to support the resolution.

At the White House, presidential spokesman Tony Snow appeared to signal that the White House is preparing for upcoming legislative¹⁰ battles.

"There are going to come time when they are going to have an opportunity to vote on continued support for the forces in the field, and this is something that we will be discussing with members of both houses [of Congress] and both parties as well, in terms of providing the support so that those who are reinforcing forces on the ground and a new and redesigned mission in terms of dealing¹¹ with the problems of violence in Iraq are going to be able to be there for their comrades to help finish the job," he said.

The House debate comes amid one new poll by USA Today/Gallup that shows 63 percent of Americans want all U.S. troops to return home from Iraq by 2008.

1 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》

2 disapproving   

adj.不满的，反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Mother gave me a disapproving look. 母亲的眼神告诉我她是不赞成的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her father threw a disapproving glance at her. 她父亲不满地瞥了她一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

5 patriotism   

n.爱国精神，爱国心，爱国主义

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• They obtained money under the false pretenses of patriotism.他们以虚伪的爱国主义为借口获得金钱。

6 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• 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。 来自辞典例句

7 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

8 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

9 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。

10 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

11 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。