2006年VOA标准英语-US House Members Voice Opposition to Amnesty fo

By Dan Robinson
Washington
22 June 2006

The House of Representatives is joining the Senate in expressing strong opposition¹ to any Iraqi government plan to offer amnesty to those who have killed U.S. soldiers. Democratic lawmakers have introduced a resolution on the issue.

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In a 79 to 19 vote this week, the Senate approved a non-binding resolution condemning³ any amnesty the Iraqi government might grant to insurgents⁴ who have killed or wounded American soldiers.

Although the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki subsequently denied it was considering an amnesty, members of Congress are not convinced and want to stop any such idea from becoming reality.

House Democrats⁵ used a Capitol Hill news conference to announce a resolution calling on President Bush to make clear to the Iraqi government that any amnesty plan would be unacceptable.

North Carolina Democrat² Bob Etheridge was joined by Bill Pascrell of New Jersey⁶, and Ike Skelton of Missouri:

ETHERIDGE: "No amnesty for Iraqi insurgents with American blood on their hands.

PASCRELL: "This is like a finger in America's eye and the American public will not stand for it.

SKELTON: "We are not for amnesty for those who murder, maim⁷ or kill our troops."

Democrats are proposing a joint⁸ resolution expressing what is called the "sense of Congress." Such resolutions must be approved by the House and Senate.

Asserting that the Iraqi government "may still be considering a far-reaching plan" that includes amnesty the resolution urges President Bush to notify the Iraqi government that the U.S. "strongly opposes the granting of amnesty to any person who has attacked, kidnapped, wounded, or killed members of the Armed Forces of the United States or citizens of the United States."

"We certainly would strongly suggest that the president use the full force and power of his office to use whatever appropriate persuasion⁹ it takes to have the Iraqis understand that we are very clear on this issue with respect to what happens to our troops and civilians¹⁰ in Iraq," said Democratic Congressman¹¹ John Larson.

The U.S. military presence in Iraq the subject of numerous debates in Congress.

Last week, the House held a 14-hour debate on a Republican-crafted resolution rejecting any timetable for pulling U.S. forces out of Iraq.

In the Senate, which last year approved a resolution stating that 2006 should be a "year of transition" in Iraq, lawmakers debated two Democratic amendments¹² dealing¹³ with the question of U.S. troop withdrawal, with a vote expected Thursday

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

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 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

5 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》

6 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

7 maim   

v.使残废，使不能工作，使伤残

参考例句：

• Automobile accidents maim many people each year. 汽车车祸每年使许多人残废。
• These people kill and maim innocent civilians.这些人杀死和残害无辜平民。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

9 persuasion   

n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派

参考例句：

• He decided to leave only after much persuasion.经过多方劝说，他才决定离开。
• After a lot of persuasion,she agreed to go.经过多次劝说后，她同意去了。

10 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

11 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

12 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

13 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。