2006年VOA标准英语-US Lawmakers Consider Resolution Supporting Isr

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
19 July 2006

The House of Representatives, following similar action by the Senate, is expected to unanimously approve a strong resolution supporting Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah and Hamas.

---------

An Israeli artillery¹ piece fires at a target in southern Lebanon near Kiryat Shmona, northern Israel, next to the Lebanese border, Tuesday July 18, 2006  
  
The seven-page resolution declares support for Israel's right to use appropriate action to defend itself against attacks.

Lawmakers say such defense² includes conducting operations both in Israel and the territory of nations posing a threat to it, under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter.

The resolution notes Lebanon's failure to disarm³ and disband the Hezbollah under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559 and it blames Iran and Syria for supporting terrorist activities against Israel.

There is strong bipartisan support for the measure, which comes against the background of intensifying⁴ Bush administration diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

Congressman⁵ Steny Hoyer is the number-two Democratic leader in the House.
 
 
Congressman Steny Hoyer
  
"The resolution simply says that we are not going to simply say Hezbollah is responsible for this," said Mr. Hoyer.  "They are.  The resolution says however that we understand as well that Iran and Syria are absolutely responsible for the actions of their agent."

Iran and Syria are sharply criticized in the House resolution, which demands that Damascus and Tehran end support for Hamas and Hezbollah and to direct those groups to immediately and unconditionally⁷ release Israeli soldiers being held captive.

In approving a similar resolution approved by voice vote on Tuesday, the Senate condemned⁸ Hezbollah, its state sponsors, Iran and Syria, and Hamas militants⁹ in Gaza.

Senate Democrat⁶ Joseph Biden urges the Bush administration to use its diplomatic clout¹⁰ to gather international support to pressure Syria and Iran to end support for Hezbollah and Hamas:

"For the world's own good, now is the time to put the screws on Syria, make the world united in their dissatisfaction and communicate it to the Iranians, build up the Lebanese capability¹¹, and focus on Hezbollah as the problem," said Mr. Biden.

Senator Biden said the statement by the G-8 group of industrialized nations was a good start by concerned nations to get at the root cause of the problem, namely Iranian and Syrian support for Hezbollah and Hamas.

The comments on Capitol Hill came as White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters the administration is stepping up its diplomatic efforts, including steps to exert pressure on Iran and Syria.

1 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

2 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。

3 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

4 intensifying   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉

参考例句：

• The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。 来自辞典例句
• The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

5 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。

6 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。

7 unconditionally   

adv.无条件地

参考例句：

• All foreign troops must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally. 所有外国军队必须立即无条件地撤出。
• It makes things very awkward to have your girls going back unconditionally just now! 你们现在是无条件上工，真糟糕！ 来自子夜部分

8 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

10 clout   

n.用手猛击；权力，影响力

参考例句：

• The queen may have privilege but she has no real political clout.女王有特权，但无真正的政治影响力。
• He gave the little boy a clout on the head.他在那小男孩的头部打了一下。

11 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。