voa标准英语2008-Iraqi Parliament Votes to Extend Presence of Non

The speaker of Iraq's parliament has resigned, paving the way for lawmakers to authorize¹ British and other non-U.S. foreign troops to remain in the country into 2009.
　

Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (C) and pol. leaders discuss the security pact2 in Baghdad, 24 Nov 2008

The Iraqi parliament accepted the resignation of its speaker, Mahmoud al-Mashhadani after hours of behind the scenes negotiations³ and several days of debate. A quick voice vote followed to approve the presence of non-U.S. forces to remain in Iraq until July 31, 2009.

Mashhadani, his voice faltering⁴ and several times on the verge⁵ of tears, explained that he was resigning in the best interest of the nation after devoting 35 years of his life, many of them in prison and crowned by three years as speaker of parliament, to the service of his country.

He said he played the role of an honest-broker and that he never opened a discussion without seeking consensus⁶, despite harsh words or kind words all at the same time. He concluded that the most important thing is that he leaves with a clear conscience before God, since lofty titles and positions make no difference.

Colleagues of the Sunni politician praised his "devotion to his country," while others thanked him for his "sense of duty and honor" in agreeing to resign.

Following Mashhadani's resignation, the deputy parliament speaker gaveled the session back to order, placing Monday's resolution that non-U.S. foreign forces be allowed to remain in the country until the end of July 2009 back on the table.
　

A British army soldier waves from an armored vehicle while on patrol in Basra, southeast of Baghdad (file)

Members of parliament then quickly voted to approve the resolution, allowing troops from Britain, Australia, Estonia, El Salvador and Romania to remain in the country after the U.N. mandate⁷ expires December 31.

The United States and Iraq agreed to a new security pact last month, allowing U.S. troops to remain in the country until 2011.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared last week, during a visit to Baghdad, that his troops would leave Iraq by the end of May 2009. There had been concern that British and other foreign forces would be thrown into a legal limbo⁸ if no agreement was reached.

1 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

2 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

5 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。

6 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

7 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

8 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。