2006年VOA标准英语-US House Approves Iran Sanctions, Senate Expect

By Dan Robinson
Washington
29 September 2006

The U.S. House of Representatives has again approved legislation to sanction entities¹ investing in Iran's oil sector², and anyone helping³ Iran develop weapons of mass destruction. The measure was revised after intense consultations⁴ with the Bush administration, and a similar measure is expected to be approved by the Senate.

-----

First passed by the House in April, the measure codifies⁵ existing U.S. sanctions against Iran since 1979, and under a 1996 law that also targeted Libya.

That law, the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (or ILSA) has been re-named the Iran Sanctions Act, recognizing Libya's decision in 2003 to give up its weapons programs.

The measure approved Thursday punishes companies or anyone providing goods, technology or services to Iran that help it acquire or develop chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or related technologies, or destabilizing numbers and types of advanced conventional weapons.

Opponents such as Congressman⁶ Earl Blumenauer asserted the measure will hurt diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff with Tehran. "Nothing in this legislation points us in the direction of a solution. It is, if you will, a cruise missile aimed at a difficult diplomatic effort, just as they are reaching their most sensitive point," he said.

But Democrat⁷ and Republican supporters assert the measure can help. "This bill today sends a powerful message to Iran and to those who would support that country's weapons development," said Republican Roy Blunt.

House and Senate versions of the Iran Freedom Support Act also call for financial and political assistance to groups working to promote democracy in Iran. This includes independent pro-democracy Persian language radio and television organizations broadcasting to Iran.

Aid would only go to groups that oppose the use of violence and terrorism and which have not been designated as foreign terrorist organizations under U.S. law.

This, too, caused controversy⁸, with opponents asserting such funding will only serve to weaken pro-Democracy elements in Iran.

It represents an escalation⁹ of tension, policy and attitudinally, with Iran and an escalation that is guaranteed to fail," said Republican Jim Leach¹⁰.

Democrat Dennis Kucinich said "this act funds media propaganda machines to lay the groundwork for a war against Iran. It encourages and funds opposition¹¹ inside Iran for that same purpose."

Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen maintains the legislation is not an alternative to diplomacy¹² but a strong incentive¹³ for European and other allies. "This bill provides a comprehensive approach, providing U.S. officials with strong leverage¹⁴ to secure cooperation from our allies in order to counter the Iranian threat," he said.

House sponsors of the Iran Freedom Support Act say they expect the Senate to take up the measure and pass it before Congress adjourns¹⁵, sending it to President Bush for signature.

1 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

2 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 codifies   

n.把（法律）编成法典( codify的名词复数 )v.把（法律）编成法典( codify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The latest draft of the agreement codifies the panel's decision. 最新的协议草案把专家小组的决定加以整理，形成了条文。 来自辞典例句
• The law that codifies evil is the essence of lawlessness. 肯定坏事的法律实质上等于无法。 来自互联网

6 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。

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 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

9 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

10 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。

11 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。

12 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

13 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

14 leverage   

n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量

参考例句：

• We'll have to use leverage to move this huge rock.我们不得不借助杠杆之力来移动这块巨石。
• He failed in the project because he could gain no leverage. 因为他没有影响力，他的计划失败了。

15 adjourns   

（使）休会， （使）休庭( adjourn的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Congress adjourns in 3 weeks, we can't do this alone. 距国会开会只有3个星期，我们不能单干。
• And so, at six in the morning, a victorious Convention adjourns. 这样，早上六点，胜利的国民议会休会了。