VOA标准英语2009年-Nominee to be US Ambassador to Iraq Says S

President Barack Obama's nominee¹ to be U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, says he believes security can be maintained during the planned drawdown of U.S. troops from that country. The veteran diplomat² testified at a confirmation³ hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
　
Christopher Hill, President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next ambassador to Iraq, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, 25 March 2009

Ambassador Hill says the situation in Iraq is at a pivotal moment.

"I think we really are in a crucial phase, because I think the task of withdrawing forces, of drawing down forces, is always, or tends to be more difficult than the task of flowing in forces," he said.

Hill, who has a son serving in Iraq, underscored the importance of maintaining security in the country as U.S. troops draw down.

"What we need to do as our forces leave is that some things we want them to take with them, that is, a sense of the mission accomplished⁴, and that is very important," Hill said. "But some things we want them to leave behind as well, and that is a sense of security within the country. I think we have the capability⁵ or the prospects⁶ of getting that done."

U.S. combat troops are to leave Iraq by August of next year.

The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Democratic Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, said Hill is well-qualified⁷ to be the next ambassador to Iraq.

Hill is a veteran diplomat who serves as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and who has been chief envoy⁸ in six-nation talks to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program. He also has been an ambassador to Macedonia and played a key role in the Dayton peace accords on Bosnia.

But some Republicans say Hill is not qualified because he does not have experience on Middle East issues. They have urged President Obama to reconsider the nomination⁹.

Senator Sam Brownback, a Kansas Republican who has disagreed with Hill over how to deal with human rights abuses by North Korea, has threatened to hold up the nomination using Senate procedural tactics.

Senator Kerry says such action would be "unconscionable".

"I believe that using Senate procedures to delay his arrival in Baghdad at a critical time in this war would do a serious disservice to our efforts there," Kerry said. "This is not a time for delay."

Hill argued he does have the experience to be U.S. Ambassador to Iraq. He said key issues facing Iraq, strengthening civilian¹⁰ government structures and normalizing relations with neighbors, are similar to those he dealt with during his experience with North Korea and the Balkans.

Hill won praise for his work on North Korea from the top Republican on the committee, Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana.

"As assistant secretary, Ambassador Hill demonstrated outstanding diplomatic and managerial skills in dealing¹¹ with one of the most difficult foreign policy challenges," Lugar said.

Another Republican, Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, asked Hill how he hoped to do as successor to Ryan Crocker, whose tenure¹² between 2007 and 2008 saw a notable turnaround in the war.

ISAKSON: "How do you see your role replacing Ambassador Crocker in Iraq?"

HILL: "Senator, I just don't want to screw it up."

ISAKSON: "That is just what I wanted to hear."

Hill told the committee that if confirmed, he would head to Baghdad the very next day.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 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。

4 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

7 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

8 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

9 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。

10 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

11 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

12 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。