2007年VOA标准英语-US Lawmakers React to Intelligence on al-Qaida,

By Dan Robinson
Washington
17 July 2007

Majority Democrats² and opposition³ Republicans in the U.S. Congress focused on the fight against terrorism Tuesday as they debated the latest government report on the threat facing the country. As Dan Robinson reports, there is strong disagreement on the best strategy to keep the country safe and on how to deal with the war in Iraq.

Speaking after their weekly strategy meeting, Republican leaders cited the latest National Intelligence Estimate as proof that Americans remain a primary target of terrorism, and as justification⁴ for supporting President Bush's strategy in Iraq.

Roy Blunt, the Republican House minority whip says the report is the basis for concern not only about al-Qaida in Iraq, but its apparent strength in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"There is some discussion as to whether they are back at pre-September 11 levels. I personally don't think they are quite there yet, but I think we do have to be very concerned about any sanctuaries⁵ for al-Qaida that would allow them to fulfill⁶ the kinds of things that they recently tried to do in Great Britain and we have every reason to believe they are trying every single day to do right here," he said.

House Republican conference chairman, Adam Putnam, took a swipe at Democrats, said the National Intelligence Estimate demonstrates the extent to which our citizens remain very much a target of an enemy fueled by hatred⁷ and bent⁸ on our destruction, adding "this is certainly not the time for our resolve to give way to timidity."

The new National Intelligence Estimate, or NIE, says al-Qaida remains⁹ determined¹⁰ to mount attacks on major targets in the United States, especially if it can acquire weapons of mass destruction.

Democrats used the report to focus on what they call President Bush's failed policies in Iraq, and the what they contend is Iraq's role in diverting attention from al-Qaida strongholds in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Congressman11 Ike Skelton (file photo)" hspace="2" src="/upimg/allimg/070719/1040050.jpg" width="210" vspace="2" border="0" />

Congressman Ike Skelton (file photo)

House Armed Services Committee chairman Ike Skelton said redeploying U.S. forces from Iraq would allow the U.S. to concentrate anti-terrorist efforts on Afghanistan.

Skelton announced a joint¹² hearing of his committee and the House intelligence panel to focus on the resurgence¹³ of al-Qaida and threats posed to the United States.

On the floor of the Senate, Democrat¹ Edward Kennedy said the intelligence report reaffirms that the war in Iraq has become a significant recruitment tool for al-Qaida.

"This has obviously made the war on terrorism harder, not easier to win. Nevertheless, the administration still continues to turn a deaf ear to all the voices calling for change," he said.

White House officials say the intelligence report shows the correctness of the president's approach in Iraq, as well as overall U.S. counter-terrorism efforts since the September 11, 2001 attacks.

"The NIE reinforces the seriousness of the terrorist threat against the homeland and confirms much of what the president has been saying since September 11th. We are facing a persistent¹⁴ terrorist enemy led by al-Qaida that remains driven and intent in attacking the homeland and that continues to adapt and improve its capabilities," said Frances Townsend, White House homeland security adviser¹⁵:

Meanwhile, a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee provided lawmakers another opportunity to voice concerns about Iraq, with Democrats and Republicans differing over the course ahead.

"Let this be a lesson to future generations that anyone entrusted¹⁶ with a leadership position can start a war [but] it takes a real statesman to end one," said Oregon Democrat David Wu.

Republicans Dana Rohrabacher said "We don't want to set specific timelines and dates to get out, but we do know that this cannot go on indefinitely."

"Given that this strategy has been effect only since June 15th, why are some so eager to pronounce it a failure and seek to force a premature¹⁷ withdrawal," asked Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

Foreign Affairs panel chairman Tom Lantos said he is convinced the Iraq war cannot be won any time soon. He says the issue is no longer whether the U.S. gets out but, how and how soon.

1 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。

2 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》

3 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。

4 justification   

n.正当的理由；辩解的理由

参考例句：

• There's no justification for dividing the company into smaller units. 没有理由把公司划分成小单位。
• In the young there is a justification for this feeling. 在年轻人中有这种感觉是有理由的。

5 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

8 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

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 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。

13 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

14 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

15 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

16 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。