2007年VOA标准英语-Another US Senate Republican Calls For New Iraq

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
06 July 2007

A growing number of Republicans are breaking rank with President Bush on Iraq, with Senator Pete Domenici of New Mexico the latest to call for a new strategy.   Domenici's comments come as the Democratic-led Senate prepares to open debate on Iraq policy.   VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

US Senator Pete Domenici, talks to reporters, 7 Nov. 2006 (file photo)

Senator Pete Domenici's comments to reporters in Albuquerque, New Mexico are significant because he had long been a supporter of President Bush's Iraq policy.

He now feels differently:

"I am unwilling² to continue our current strategy when the Iraqi government fails to advance the interests of the Iraqi people, or even make modest progress toward self-sufficiency," he said.

Domenici joins two other key Republicans who have urged the Bush administration to take a new direction in Iraq in recent weeks.  Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator George Voinovich of Ohio say the United States should reduce its military presence in Iraq and bolster³ diplomatic efforts.

US troops run across the street during a mission in Baquba, 04 Jul 2007

U.S. strategy in Iraq is expected to be the focus of Senate debate next week, when lawmakers consider a defense⁴ authorization⁵ bill.  Senate Democratic leaders plan to force votes on proposals to limit spending on the war and set a timeline for withdrawing most troops by next year.

Domenici says he would oppose an immediate⁶ troop withdrawal⁷ from Iraq and a cut off of funds for the troops.  Instead, he expressed support for the approach proposed by the Iraq study group.

That bipartisan group called for the U.S. mission to transition from combat to supporting Iraqi security forces.

At the White House, spokesman Tony Fratto played down the significance of Domenici's comments, saying they were part of a thoughtful discussion about Iraq policy.  He noted⁸ that Domenici, Lugar and Voinovich all opposed immediate troop withdrawals⁹ and cut-offs in funding for the troops.

Fratto said it is too soon to gauge¹⁰ progress of the U.S. troop surge.  He said September would be the appropriate time, when General David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, is to deliver a report to Congress.

But Senator Domenici suggested that the patience of the American people is running out.  He said a recent phone call from a father who lost a son in Iraq convinced him that the time had come for him to speak out.

"One father said, 'Yes, you were right Senator.  My son wanted to be in that war, he wanted to fight.  But now I am speaking for me, his father,' said he.  'I am asking you if you could do a little extra, a little more, if you can't get the troops back,'" said Mr. Domenici.

The calls for a new direction in Iraq by Domenici, Lugar and Voinovich could prompt other Republicans to break party ranks.

Lawmakers will be returning to Washington next week after spending a week with their constituents¹¹, and listening to their concerns about the war.  Some lawmakers traveled to Iraq this past week to get a first-hand look at the situation.

Among them was the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator John Warner of Virginia, who has signaled his own concern about the course of the war.

The top Democrat¹ in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry¹² Reid of Nevada, is calling on Republicans, as he put it, not to just say the right things on Iraq, but to vote the right way to bring a responsible end to the war. 

In the House of Representatives, lawmakers are expected to consider a measure that would require the redeployment of U.S. troops to be completed by April 2008.

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 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

3 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

4 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。

5 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。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 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。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 withdrawals   

n.收回，取回，撤回( withdrawal的名词复数 )；撤退，撤走；收回[取回，撤回，撤退，撤走]的实例；推出（组织），提走（存款），戒除毒瘾，对说过的话收回，孤僻

参考例句：

• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account. 他从银行账户上提了几次款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It is not the bank's policy to deduct interest on withdrawals. 提款需扣除利息这并非是本银行的政策。 来自辞典例句

10 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

11 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 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。