2007年VOA标准英语-Senate Democrats Vow More Action On Iraq

By Paula Wolfson
White House
18 February 2007

Leading Democrats¹ in the U.S. Senate say they will continue to look for ways to pressure the Bush administration to change course in Iraq. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports from the White House, Bush administration officials are urging lawmakers to think long and hard before taking action.

 
US Capitol, Washington DC
Debate on Capitol Hill has centered in recent days on a symbolic² resolution expressing disapproval³ with President Bush's plan to send additional troops to Iraq.

The measure passed the House easily, but supporters in the Senate fell four votes short of the 60 needed to bring the resolution to a vote. It had full support from Senate Democrats, but only seven Republicans broke party ranks to vote "yes."

Senate Democratic leader Harry⁴ Reid says his party is not giving up.

 
Rep. Harry Reid (16 Feb 2007)
"Seventy percent of the American people do not like what is happening with that war," said Harry Reid. "And as a result of that, there will be a lot of talk about this and there will be votes taken in the next several months as should be."

In a recorded interview aired on CNN's Late Edition, Reid talked about the road ahead. He said all serious ideas for legislative⁵ action will be considered, using unusually strong language to describe the president's Iraq policy.

"This war is a serious situation," he said. "It involves the worst foreign policy mistake in the history of this country. So we should take everything seriously. We find ourselves in a very deep hole, and we need to find a way to dig out of it."

Appearing live on the same program, White House spokesman Tony Snow took issue with the Senate majority leader's characterization.

 
Tony Snow 
"Yes, the war is tough," said Tony Snow. "But the solution is not to get out. It is to provide the kinds of resources and reinforcements our forces need to get the job done, and, at the same time, say to the Iraqis: 'You guys got to step up!' [have to do your part]"

Snow urged Congress to think carefully before taking action.

"And what I would say to members of Congress is calm down," he said. "Take a look at what is going on and ask yourself a simple question: If you support the troops, would you deny them the reinforcements they think are necessary to complete the mission?'"

Some Democrats in Congress want to modify the 2002 resolution that authorized⁷ the president to go to war.

 
Carl Levin 
Among those advocating a change in the war authorization⁸ is Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin. He spoke⁶ on the Fox News Sunday program.

"We authorized him [President Bush] going to Iraq," said Carl Levin. "And we can modify that authorization, so it is not this unlimited⁹ authority of the president to use our troops in combat in the middle of Baghdad."

Levin said he would like to see a much more limited mission, one that sees American troops in a support role, instead of taking the lead in combat.

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 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。

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 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。

5 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。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

8 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

9 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。