A House of Representatives committee has voted down attempts by Republicans to restore more than $200 million for a planned U.S. missile defense system in Europe. A final decision on funding must await House and Senate votes on separate versions of a more than $500 billion defense authorization measure for 2009, and negotiations to resolve differences.
美国国会众议院一个委员会投票否决了共和党人试图恢复为拟议中的美国在欧洲部署导弹防御系统拨款两亿多美元的努力。有关这项拨款的最后决定，还必须等待参众两院就2009年超过五千亿美元的国防预算不同版本进行磋商，解决分歧后，再投票决定。
The Bush administration wants to place 10 land-based interceptor missiles in Poland, and a related radar installation in the Czech Republic, as a NATO defense against potential ballistic missile launches on Europe, with a focus on potential Iranian threats.
布什政府打算在波兰部署十个陆基拦截导弹装置，并且在捷克共和国部署相关的雷达设施，以此协助北约防御可能针对欧洲的弹道导弹袭击，特别是潜在的伊朗威胁。
The plan is controversial, and has increased tensions with Russia, which views the future system as a threat, and has faced opposition from congressional Democrats.
这项计划引起争议，导致与俄罗斯关系进一步紧张，因为俄罗斯认为未来的导弹防御系统是对俄罗斯的一个威胁。另外，这项计划也面临国会民主党议员的反对。
Democrats say their $8.6 billion figure for the Missile Defense Agency, a $720 million reduction, is roughly equal to current year funding, while a $232 million decrease for the European missile program is $100 million above last year's request.
民主党人表示，他们为导弹防御局提出的86亿美元预算，虽然比共和党提出的减少了7亿2千万美元，但是与今年的预算大致相等。而欧洲导弹防御系统预算虽然被削减2亿3千2百万美元，仍比去年所要求的还多出1亿美元。
California Democrat Representative Ellen Tauscher, says the Bush administration has not yet met conditions for full funding. "We are hardly slashing what the president has asked for, but things have not changed. We do not have signed agreement with Poland or the Czech Republic, we do not have ratified agreements with their parliaments," he said.
来自加州的民主党议员陶彻说，布什政府还没有满足足额拨款所需要的条件。陶彻说：“我们几乎没有删减总统的要求，但是情况并没有改变。我们还没有和波兰或捷克共和国签订条约，我们和他们的议会间也没有已经得到批准的协议。”
Tauscher also says the administration has not yet provided a review of alternatives,or certified that the system has been acceptably tested for operational effectiveness.
陶彻同时指出，布什政府还没有提出对替代方案的评估，或者认定这个系统已经试验证明可以有效运行。
Republicans proposed amendments to restore money for the Missile Defense Agency,including 232 million dollars for the European missile shield program.
共和党提出修改议案，恢复给导弹防御局拨款，其中包括为欧洲导弹防御计划拨款2亿3千200万美元。
Alabama Republican Congressman Terry Everett warned that funding cuts would endanger hoped for agreements with Poland and the Czech Republic, and send a bad message to NATO.
阿拉巴马州共和党众议员艾佛里警告说，削减拨款将危及美国和波兰及捷克共和国达成协议的希望，并且给北约送去错误的信息。
"It frankly sends a wrong message to our allies, risks breaking down [our] negotiations with Poland and negatively affecting the planned June 2008 signing of agreements with the Czech Republic, demonstrates to NATO allies a lack of U.S. Commitment, after NATO gave its endorsement to the U.S. proposal to counter increasing missile threats and continuing collective security," he said.
艾佛里说：“这明显地会给我们的盟国送去错误的信息，危及我们和波兰的谈判，危及我们原计划2008年6月和捷克共和国签署协议。在北约支持美国有关对抗不断增长的导弹威胁和继续集体安全的建议后，对北约盟国展现出美国缺乏承诺。”
"Iran right now has ballistic capability to reach a lot of Europe with ballistic missiles and it is developing very rapidly ballistic missile capability to reach all of Europe," said Republican Duncan Hunter.
Republican Doug Lamborn added, "The real point in this debate is even if we wait, Iran will not, and other potential adversaries will watch our commitment to defend."
Democrats argued that the European missile plan should not be rushed. House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt, a Democrat from South Carolina, says the program would divert funds from other U.S. defense needs, and possibly tie the hands of a new president.
民主党议员争辩说，不应仓促推动欧洲导弹防御计划。众院预算委员会主席、来自南卡罗莱纳州的民主党议员斯普拉特说，这项计划会分散美国国防所需要的经费，并且可能绑住新总统的手脚。
"What we need to strike here is a balance, enough of a commitment to the project to let the Poles and Czechs know that we are not backing down on them, that the thing is still there it is still viable, still in the works, yet not so much commitment at this point that the next president, whoever he or she may be, does not have the flexibility to review this commitment," Spratt said.
斯普拉特说：“我们需要取得一种平衡。一方面向波兰和捷克保证我们并没有从所做的承诺后退，这项计划仍然在继续推动，仍然可行。另一方面，也要给下一任总统有足够的弹性，来重审这项承诺。”
While the U.S. and the Czech Republic are headed toward a hoped for signing in June, negotiations with Poland have been more problematic.
Wednesday's House committee votes contrast with the Senate Armed Services committee,which voted earlier this month to fully fund President Bush's request, while imposing conditions, including approval by the Polish and Czech parliaments.
众议院委员会星期三的投票结果和参议院军事委员会的投票结果相反，参议院军事委员会本月早些时候的投票完全满足布什总统的拨款要求，但有附加条件，其中包括必须得到波兰和捷克共和国议会的批准。
Senate and House votes on their versions of defense authorization legislation are not likely until June, and any differences will have to be worked out in negotiations.
参议院和众议院不大可能在6月以前就各自的防御授权法案进行全体投票。而两院间的任何分歧也必须经由谈判解决。
Both chambers will also have to vote on separate defense appropriations bills. Lawmakers also approved cuts in various other Missile Defense Agency programs, added money for some others, and provided $10 million for a joint U.S.-Israel short-range anti-ballistic missile program.
此外，国会两院还必须就各自的国防拨款法案进行投票。 |