2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Challenged On War And Prosecutors

By Jim Malone
Washington
16 April 2007

President Bush faces major political challenges on two fronts this week, the war in Iraq and a controversy¹ involving his attorney general, Alberto Gonzales. VOA National correspondent Jim Malone has a preview from Washington.

The president is scheduled to meet with Democratic congressional leaders on Wednesday as both sides remained locked in an impasse³ over a spending bill that funds the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Democrats⁴ are insisting that the bill set a timetable for the withdrawal⁵ of U.S. troops from Iraq beginning next year.

Mr. Bush said Monday that a troop withdrawal deadline means Congress would be, in his words, legislating⁶ defeat and would cripple the U.S. war effort in Iraq.

"If we do not defeat the terrorists and extremists in Iraq, they will not leave us alone," he said. "They will follow us to the United States of America."

Democrats acknowledge they do not have the votes to overcome a promised presidential veto of any bill that includes a troop withdrawal deadline.

But Democrats are also adamant⁷ that the spending bill should reflect the public's dissatisfaction with the war and the fact that Democrats retook control of Congress last year largely on that issue.

Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan appeared on Fox News Sunday.

"The president was told by the people last November that they want to change course in Iraq," he said. "He has not done it. He has gotten us in deeper militarily although there is no military solution. We are going to try to use this opportunity to change course."

Alberto Gonzales, 09 Mar8 2007

The president's attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, also faces a major challenge this week in convincing members of Congress from both parties that he should remain on the job.

Gonzales is under fire for his role in the controversial firing of eight U.S. attorneys last year and he makes a crucial appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

The Justice Department took the unusual step of releasing the attorney general's testimony⁹ days in advance. In it, Gonzales apologizes to the eight fired federal prosecutors¹¹ but defends their removal as legitimate¹².

Gonzales has admitted making misstatements about what he knew about the prosecutor¹⁰ firings. But he has also argued he has done nothing to warrant his resignation from office, something several Democrats and even some Republicans have demanded.

"Because I accept responsibility and because I am committed to doing my job," he said. "And that is what I intend to do here on behalf of the American people."

Democrats at the hearing are expected to grill¹³ Gonzales about his role in the firings and whether the prosecutors were removed for political reasons.

Vermont Democrat² Patrick Leahy chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president. The system of justice does not serve at the pleasure of any person in this country, it is there for all of us," he said.

Democrats are also expected to press their case that key Bush advisers¹⁴ including Karl Rove testify about their role in the prosecutor firings, something the White House has so far refused.

1 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。

2 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。

3 impasse   

n.僵局；死路

参考例句：

• The government had reached an impasse.政府陷入绝境。
• Negotiations seemed to have reached an impasse.谈判似乎已经陷入僵局。

4 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》

5 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。

6 legislating   

v.立法，制定法律( legislate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Why are the senators sitting there without legislating? 为什么那些议员们做在那里不立法？ 来自互联网
• From legislating and protecting peasant's interests organizationally. " 从立法和组织上保护农民利益。 来自互联网

7 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

8 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

11 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

12 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

13 grill   

n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问

参考例句：

• Put it under the grill for a minute to brown the top.放在烤架下烤一分钟把上面烤成金黄色。
• I'll grill you some mutton.我来给你烤一些羊肉吃。

14 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。