2007年VOA标准英语-Iraq War, Iran Dominate Democrats' TV Debate

By Jim Malone
Washington
27 September 2007

The war in Iraq and U.S. relations with Iran dominated the latest debate among the eight Democrats¹ seeking their party's presidential nomination² next year.  VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has more from Washington.

All the Democratic contenders want to pull U.S. troops out of Iraq.  But they differ over how many troops and how quickly.

In the debate, the three leading Democratic contenders would not pledge to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of their first term in 2013.

"Military personnel indicate we can get one to two brigades out per month.  I would immediately begin that process," said Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. "We would get combat troops out of Iraq."

There was a more cautious response from the current Democratic frontrunner, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.

"It is my goal to have all troops out by the end of my first term," she said.  "But I agree with Barack [Obama].  It is very difficult to know what we are going to be inheriting."

Senator Clinton said U.S. troops might have to continue to carry out combat missions against terrorists inside Iraq.

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards agreed that some troops would have to remain in Iraq.  But he tried to draw a contrast with Senator Clinton.

"I would have our combat troops out of Iraq over a period of several months and I would not continue combat missions in Iraq," he said. "Combat missions mean that the war is continuing.  I believe that this war needs to be brought to an end."

Some Democrats say they would pull out all U.S. forces within a matter of months if they were elected president.

"Their position basically is changing the mission," said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. "My position, in bringing all troops out of Iraq, is to end the war."

Others emphasized regional diplomacy³ to shore up Iraq's security as U.S. troops withdrew.

"So, I believe that we ought to begin that process of redeployment here," said Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut.  "I would simultaneously⁴ engage in the kind of robust⁵ diplomacy that has been totally missing from this administration."

The state of U.S. relations with Iran was also a major topic of debate.

Senator Clinton is among those who favors a mix of sanctions and diplomacy to dissuade⁶ Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

"I will do everything I can to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power including the use of diplomacy, the use of economic sanctions, opening up direct talks," she said.  "We have not even tried."

A few hours before the debate, Senator Clinton supported a non-binding Senate resolution calling on the State Department to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

That brought this reaction from former Senator John Edwards.

"I have no intention of giving George Bush the authority to take the first step on a road to war with Iran," he said.

Senator Obama noted⁷ that several Republican presidential contenders have threatened to use military force to stop Tehran from developing a nuclear capability⁸.

"Until we have gathered the international community to put the squeeze on Iran economically, then we should not be having conversations about attacks in Iran," he said.

The debate was held at Dartmouth College in the early voting state of New Hampshire and was broadcast on MSNBC television.

Clinton continues to lead Obama and Edwards in national public opinion polls.  But surveys in the early voting state of Iowa show a close race among the top three Democrats.

1 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》

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 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。

4 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

5 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

6 dissuade   

v.劝阻，阻止

参考例句：

• You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
• I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。

7 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。

8 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。