VOA常速英语2008年-Pentagon Chief Says Future Iraq Agreement Won't

By Dan Robinson
Washington
06 February 2008

Secretary of Defense¹ Robert Gates says a future Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) negotiated with the Iraqi government will not include a formal arrangement requiring the United States to defend Iraq. VOA's Dan Robinson reports on testimony² by Gates to Senate and House committees on Capitol Hill.

U.S. and Iraqi officials hope to conclude a bilateral³ agreement on military, political and economic cooperation, including the role of U.S. forces, within the next six months.

However, the issue is controversial, with congressional Democrats⁴ and other critics accusing the Bush administration of negotiating the accord, and a declaration of principles signed late last year, without seeking approval or guidance from Congress.

The matter was among the first mentioned by Senate Armed Forces Committee chairman Carl Levin.

LEVIN: Is it the intention as far as you know, to submit any agreement which is negotiated with the government of Iraq to the Senate for its advice and consent, if there is any commitment in such an agreement to defend Iraq beyond the term of this administration?

GATES: I am certainly no lawyer but I would say that any elements in the agreement, in any agreement that is put together that involves the treaty ratification⁵ authority of the Senate would require that it be submitted.

Later, it was Senator Edward Kennedy's turn. Noting the U.N. Security Council vote in December temporarily extending the mandate⁶ under which U.S-led forces have been in Iraq, he pressed Gates again on the point:

KENNEDY: Wouldn't it make more sense to seek a short-term extension to enable the next [U.S.] administration to decide what form our commitment should take, if any?

GATES: Well, sir, Senator Kennedy, the Status of Forces Agreement that is being discussed will not contain a commitment to defend Iraq and neither will a strategic framework agreement.

That was a confirmation⁷ of recent statements by Bush administration officials that a firm security guarantee will not be part of the accord, but would have to be covered by a separate agreement in the form of a treaty.

On the question of consultation⁸, Gates said there should be what he called "a great deal of openness and transparency" with Congress as the agreement is negotiated.

Iraq's ambassador to the United States told reporters this week that a future bilateral accord would not authorize⁹ permanent U.S. military bases.

However, the declaration of principles signed last November by President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki contains language referring to security assurances and commitments, and "defending [Iraq's] democratic system against internal and external threats."

To the White House position that the agreement would not require input¹⁰ from Congress, critics say the language raises the likelihood of a long-term U.S. troop presence even after President Bush leaves office in 2009.

Senator Kennedy pointed¹¹ to what he calls shifting positions by the administration, and singled out a declaration, known as a signing statement, by President Bush in which he said he would not be bound by language in defense legislation prohibiting use of funds to set up permanent bases.

Lawmakers note that the administration has not pledged to submit the final text of the bilateral agreement for approval by Congress.

While making saying the administration would submit any elements of a bilateral accord requiring a stamp of approval by the Senate, Gates reiterated¹² the administration's general explanation that the U.S.-Iraq accord be similar to similar agreements with other governments.

On the question of war costs, Secretary Gates told lawmakers in both the Senate and House armed services committees operations in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost $170 billion into the 2009 fiscal¹³ year, a figure that includes $70 billion proposed this week by the Pentagon.

However, he cautioned that this will depend on decisions made later this year on troop levels in Iraq, and whether Congress approves about $100 billion President Bush asked for the current 2008 fiscal year.

1 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。

2 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。

3 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

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 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

6 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。

7 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

8 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

9 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。

10 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

11 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

12 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

13 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。