2007年VOA标准英语-Measure to Change Troop Leave Blocked in US Sen

By Deborah Tate
Washington
20 September 2007

Legislation to regulate U.S. troop deployment¹ cycles in Iraq was blocked in the U.S. Senate late Wednesday by Republican opponents who argued the measure could undermine the war effort. The action was a blow to Senate Democrats³ who are seeking to challenge the Bush administration's Iraq war policy. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

The Senate voted 56 to 44, four short of the 60 necessary, to cut off debate and move the measure to a final vote.

The legislation would have ensured that troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan be allowed to spend at least as much time at their home bases as they spent on their last deployment before returning to the battlefield. Most troops spend about 15 months in combat and 12 months at home.

Senator Jim Webb, a Virginia Democrat² and Vietnam veteran who also served as navy secretary under the Republican administration of President Ronald Reagan, was the chief sponsor of the measure. "It is needed for the well being of our troops and family members," he said.

Opponents said the measure would allow Congress to micromanage the war.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, himself a Vietnam veteran who is seeking the Republican nomination⁴ for president next year, argued that political - not military - considerations were behind the proposal. With the military stretched thin by the mission in Iraq, McCain said extending troops' time away from the battlefield would amount to a de facto troop withdrawal⁵ from Iraq. "This debate is about whether we will force a backdoor approach aimed at influencing the conduct of the war," he said.

Senator John Warner, a Republican of Virginia, who, like Senator Webb, is also a former navy secretary, had initially⁶ supported the proposal but changed his mind after talking with senior military officials. "They are absolutely convinced, and have now convinced me that they cannot effectively put into force that amendment⁷ at this time without causing severe problems within the existing forces and those that are serving there," he said.

Warner had voted for the legislation when it first came before the Senate in July, when it also fell short of the 60-vote margin⁸.

Senator Webb said he believes Warner's reversal on the measure prompted other Republicans who may have considered supporting the proposal to back away from the plan.

Defense⁹ Secretary Robert Gates said he would have recommended that President Bush veto the legislation had it passed, even though Senator Webb said the president could waive¹⁰ the provisions if he deemed it necessary for national security.

Senate Majority Leader Harry¹¹ Reid, a Nevada Democrat, who has been frustrated¹² by Republican efforts to block legislation aimed at changing the course of the Iraq war, again expressed his disappointment. "To stop the majority of this body from acting¹³ shows yet again that most of my Republican colleagues are much more interested in protecting the president than protecting our troops," he said.

Senate Democratic leaders had viewed the Webb proposal as having the best chance of attracting the 60 votes necessary to allow for passage of the measure.

Its defeat calls into question whether Democrats, under pressure from members of their liberal base to end the war quickly, will be able to get any measures aimed at challenging Iraq war policy approved in the coming weeks and months.

Senator Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican and co-sponsor of the legislation, does not see members of his party breaking with the president any time soon.

 

"Most of the Republicans will stay with the president in his status quo part two or stay the course part two, until probably until after the first of the year. I do not think there will be any meaningful change of votes or switching positions until we get into next year. I just don't think that will happen," he said.

But Senator McCain said many Republicans want to give President Bush's troop surge more time to work following testimony¹⁴ last week by the top commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, that the surge is working and has resulted in some progress in Iraq.

Debate on troop deployment cycles came as the Senate considered a defense policy bill.

1 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。

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 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》

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

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 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

7 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。

8 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

9 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。

10 waive   

vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)

参考例句：

• I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
• In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况，他们同意放弃他们的要求。

11 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。

12 frustrated   

adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。
• The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

14 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。