2007年VOA标准英语-Key Republican Senator Says US Iraq Strategy No

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
26 June 2007

An influential¹ U.S. Senate Republican says President Bush's Iraq policy is not working, and he is calling for a downsizing of U.S. forces in Iraq. The comments by Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana has sparked renewed debate about the war, and prompted a second Senate Republican to back the call for a troop withdrawal² from Iraq. VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

Senator Richard Lugar is shown in this 2005 file photo

Senator Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took aim at President Bush's so-called troop surge strategy in a speech on the Senate floor.

"In my judgment³, the costs and risks of continuing down the current path outweigh⁴ the potential benefits that might be achieved. Persisting indefinitely with the surge strategy will delay policy adjustments that have a better chance of protecting our vital interests over the long term."

Lugar said current policy is limiting U.S. diplomatic effectiveness around the world and straining U.S. military resources. He urged a draw-down of U.S. troops in Iraq and a redeployment of some of those forces in the region before next year's presidential campaign formally gets under way, when, he says, partisan⁵ confrontation⁶ would make cooperation on national security nearly impossible.

In making his comments late Monday, Lugar broke with most other congressional Republicans, who have said they would wait to make assessments⁷ about Iraq until September, when the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, delivers a report to Congress.

But Tuesday, another Republican member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator George Voinovich of Ohio, joined Lugar in calling for a troop withdrawal. Voinovich sent President Bush a letter expressing his belief that the United States must begin to develop a comprehensive plan for gradual military disengagement from Iraq.

Even before word of Voinovich's letter became public, the Senate's top Democrat⁸, Majority leader Harry⁹ Reid of Nevada said Lugar's comments could provide political cover for more Republicans who want to challenge President Bush's Iraq policy.

"When this war comes to an end, and it will come to an end, when the history books are written, and they will be written, I believe that Senator Lugar's words could be remembered as the turning point in this intractable civil war in Iraq," he said.

Next month Reid plans to hold votes on several anti-war related amendments¹⁰ to a defense¹¹ policy bill, including proposals to cut off money for combat operations, withdraw troops, and revoke¹² the 2002 congressional authorization¹³ for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

At the White House, spokesman Tony Snow said Lugar's comments are nothing new, and noted¹⁴ that the senator has had reservations about the surge for some time.

But Lugar told reporters administration officials telephoned him to arrange a meeting with him soon.

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

4 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

5 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

6 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

7 assessments   

n.评估( assessment的名词复数 )；评价；（应偿付金额的）估定；（为征税对财产所作的）估价

参考例句：

• He was shrewd in his personal assessments. 他总能对人作出精明的评价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Surveys show about two-thirds use such assessments, while half employ personality tests. 调查表明，约有三分之二的公司采用了这种测评；而一半的公司则采用工作人员个人品质测试。 来自百科语句

8 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。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

10 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。

11 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。

12 revoke   

v.废除，取消，撤回

参考例句：

• The university may revoke my diploma.大学可能吊销我的毕业证书。
• The government revoked her husband's license to operate migrant labor crews.政府撤销了她丈夫管理外来打工人群的许可证。

13 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

14 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。