2006年VOA标准英语-House Committee Approves US India-Nuclear Accor

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
27 June 2006

 
A scientific officer works in the control room of the Kalpakkam Atomic Center at Kalpakkam (file photo) 
  
An agreement under which the United States would provide assistance to India's civilian¹ nuclear program has been approved by a key congressional committee.  The U.S.-India nuclear accord also faces scrutiny² in the Senate this week.

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Since the agreement was finalized³ during President Bush's visit to India last March, the White House has pressed lawmakers to take the specific legislative⁴ steps necessary to clear the way for approval by Congress.

Under the accord, the United States would reverse longstanding policy restricting nuclear cooperation with India because of its failure to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

India in turn would agree to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards and allow inspectors⁵ access to its civilian nuclear facilities.

The measure approved by the House International Relations Committee Tuesday took the specific step of exempting⁶ the accord from certain requirements in U.S. law under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to allow exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology.

Democrat⁷ and Republican supporters said the accord will mark the beginning of a new phase in relations, will not harm global nonproliferation efforts, and is in U.S. security interests.

Democratic Congressman⁸ Joseph Crowley.

"This will be a historic day, the day the U.S. and India broke free of the Cold War mindset and embraced each other as true allies," said Mr. Crowley.

For opponents, the fact that the agreement lacks provision to require India to open its military nuclear sites to inspection⁹ is a major flaw.

Another was cited by Democratic Congressman Howard Berman, who unsuccessfully proposed an amendment¹⁰ to require President Bush to make a determination that India has stopped producing fissile materials that can be used to make nuclear weapons.

"Only a halt of fissile material production would make this deal a net plus for nonproliferation," said Mr. Berman. 

Congressman Tom Lantos argues any U.S. attempt to force the issue would be rejected outright¹¹ by New Delhi.

"We are not in a position to make the most fundamental national security choices for the nation of India with its 1.1 billion people," said Mr. Lantos.  "They must come to the realization¹² themselves that more nuclear weapons will not yield more security, a lesson we took decades to learn."

The Bush administration worked behind the scenes to ensure that neither House nor Senate versions of the legislation contain language that might scuttle¹³ the accord.

The House measure gives President Bush significant powers to assess India's adherence¹⁴, and contains a clarifications of U.S. policy regarding the Nuclear Suppliers Group, interpretation¹⁵ of the Nonproliferation Treaty and U.S. security goals dealing¹⁶ with South Asia.

That does not allay¹⁷ the concerns of some lawmakers, such as Iowa Republican Jim Leach¹⁸, who fear the agreement irretrievably harms nonproliferation.

"Anyone that wants to present this as a happy day is making a very serious mistake.  This is a dilemma¹⁹ for the international world that we have undercut the most serious arms control treaty perhaps ever negotiated," said Mr. Leach.

Democrat Gary Ackerman has this response to critics who assert the accord sends the wrong message to others, such as Iran and North Korea, as well as to India's nuclear rival Pakistan:

"If you want to be treated like India, be a responsible international actor with regard to weapons of mass destruction technologies," said Mr. Ackerman.

 
US security official escorts US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left, to her car upon arrival in Pakistan
  
Despite tighter provisions in the House measure, Republican Congressman Henry Hyde cautions the Bush administration not to make assumptions about prospects²⁰ for final approval:

"I would caution the administration to pay close attention to congressional concerns," said Mr. Hyde.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes up the U.S.-India nuclear accord on Wednesday.

Congressional consideration comes as Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice visits Pakistan, where the U.S.-India accord is viewed with suspicion and President Pervez Musharraf has indicated his government wants similar treatment on nuclear cooperation from the Bush administration.

1 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。

2 scrutiny   

n.详细检查，仔细观察

参考例句：

• His work looks all right,but it will not bear scrutiny.他的工作似乎很好，但是经不起仔细检查。
• Few wives in their forties can weather such a scrutiny.很少年过四十的妻子经得起这么仔细的观察。

3 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

5 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 exempting   

使免除[豁免]( exempt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• EPA adopted regulations exempting discharges from agricultural activities, with certain exceptions for relatively major pollution sources. 环境保护局采用管制规章，禁止源自农业活动的各种排放，对于一些相关的大型污染源也有例外。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 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。

8 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。

9 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

10 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

11 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

12 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

13 scuttle   

v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗

参考例句：

• There was a general scuttle for shelter when the rain began to fall heavily.下大雨了，人们都飞跑着寻找躲雨的地方。
• The scuttle was open,and the good daylight shone in.明朗的亮光从敞开的小窗中照了进来。

14 adherence   

n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着

参考例句：

• He was well known for his adherence to the rules.他因遵循这些规定而出名。
• The teacher demanded adherence to the rules.老师要求学生们遵守纪律。

15 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

16 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。

17 allay   

v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等)

参考例句：

• The police tried to allay her fears but failed.警察力图减轻她的恐惧，但是没有收到什么效果。
• They are trying to allay public fears about the spread of the disease.他们正竭力减轻公众对这种疾病传播的恐惧。

18 leach   

v.分离，过滤掉；n.过滤；过滤器

参考例句：

• Liquid water can leach soluble materials from the interface.液态水能够从界面溶解出可溶性物质。
• They believe that the humic materials are leached from decaying plant materials.他们认为腐植物料是从腐烂的植物体浸沥而来。

19 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

20 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。