2007年VOA标准英语-Senate Democrats Hope US Voters Will Press for

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
23 July 2007

U.S. Senate Democrats² hope their Republican counterparts will face pressure from voters to change course in Iraq, after Republicans last week blocked legislation calling for a U.S. troop withdrawal³ from that country. VOA's Deborah Tate has a look at the status of the congressional debate over Iraq, and what comes next.

Harry4 Reid, (r), talks to reporters following vote on an amendment5 to Defense6 Authorization7 Bill on Capitol Hill, 18 July 2007 " hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070725/0937230.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (r), talks to reporters following vote on an amendment to Defense Authorization Bill on Capitol Hill, 18 July 2007

Shortly after Republicans blocked the measure to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of next April, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat¹, vowed⁸ to return to the legislation at a future date - but only when it was clear that there would be more Republican support.

"We will do everything in our power to change course in Iraq," he said. "We will come back to this bill when it is clear we can make progress."

Last week's vote fell eight short of the 60 votes needed to move the legislation forward. Democrats believe that in time, enough Republicans will back the measure for it to succeed.

Among them is Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois. He believes that during the congressional recess⁹ in August, Republicans will come under pressure from voters for blocking the troop withdrawal proposal. When Congress returns to Washington in September, Durbin argues, Republicans may be more willing to vote in favor of the plan.

"Our colleagues in the Senate are going to have a chance to go home, explain their votes, and vote again, and eventually, I am confident they will join us in changing the direction in Iraq," he said.

A number of Senate Republicans acknowledge their patience with the course of the unpopular war is not open-ended.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, 20 July 2007

Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says he will make his own assessment¹⁰ of the war when the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker, brief Congress in September.

"I think September is the critical month," he said. "People on both sides expect policy post-September to be based in large measure on what General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker have to say."

The House of Representatives has passed its own version of the legislation calling for a U.S. troop pullout from Iraq by next April. Lawmakers in the House may also try to attach Iraq-related amendments¹¹ to a defense funding bill in the coming weeks.

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 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 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。

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 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

6 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。

7 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。

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

9 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

10 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

11 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。