VOA常速英语2014--美国国会将调查伯格达尔的获释

 

US Lawmakers to Probe Bergdahl Release 美国国会将调查伯格达尔的获释

WASHINGTON — Later this week, U.S. lawmakers will hold the first hearings into the prisoner swap¹ that freed Army Sergeant² Bowe Bergdahl in return for five Taliban detainees.

美国国会议员本星期晚些时候将举行第一次听证会，对为使美军中士伯格达尔获释而释放5名塔利班在押犯的俘虏交换进行调查。

Sergeant Bergdahl is reported to be claiming he was beaten, tortured, and held in a cage during his five years of Taliban captivity³.

美军中士伯格达尔据称在被塔利班监禁的五年期间曾遭受酷刑、殴打，并被关在笼子里。

He is receiving medical treatment in Germany after his release on May 31. The controversy⁴ about the Obama administration’s actions leading up to Bergdahl's release shows no signs of ebbing⁵.

5月31日获释后，伯格达尔目前在德国接受治疗。但是围绕着奥巴马政府通过俘虏交换使伯格达尔获释所引发的争议，却丝毫没有平息。

Republican Congressman⁶ Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, voiced his dismay over the affair on ABC’s This Week program.

众议院情报委员会主席、共和党议员罗杰斯是对美国广播公司《本星期》节目说：

“This is a huge regional and geopolitical problem for the United States moving forward.  Hostages are now currency in the war on terror.  This is always dangerous for diplomats⁷, aid workers, and soldiers in the battlefield.  This was the wrong message at the wrong time, and we are going to pay for this decision for years,” said Rogers.

“这对美国来说是个巨大的区域和地缘政治问题。在反恐战争中，人质现在就是货币。这对外交官、援助人员，以及战场上的军人来说总是很危险的。这次交换是在错误的时间发出错误的信息，我们将为此决定付出长期的代价。”

Lawmakers of both parties have expressed concerns about the White House’s failure to notify Congress before the swap.  But Democrats⁸ say the Bergdahl case should not become a partisan⁹ battle.  Senate Majority Leader Harry¹⁰ Reid had these words for his Republican colleagues:

国会民主和共和两党对白宫未能在俘虏交换之前通知国会表示担忧。但是民主党说，伯格达尔事件不应成为一次党派之争。

“Opponents of President Obama have seized upon the release of a prisoner of war, that is what is was, and using what should be a moment of unity¹¹ and celebration for our nation as a chance to play political games,” said Reid.

参议院民主党领袖里德说：“奥巴马总统的反对者抓住释放战俘这次事件。这原本是一个展现国家团结和值得庆祝的时刻，他们却利用这个机会玩政治游戏。”

At congressional hearings, lawmakers are likely to probe widespread reports that Bergdahl abandoned his post in Afghanistan prior to being taken captive.

外界普遍报道说，伯格达尔在阿富汗落入塔利班之手前曾开小差。在国会的听证会上，议员们可能对此进行调查。

“You jeopardize¹² other soldiers when you walk away from your post.  End of story,” said Republican Congressman Rogers.

罗杰斯议员说：“你擅离职守，会置其他军人于危险之中。就是这么回事。”

In Brussels last week, President Barack Obama issued no apologies for his administration’s handling of the Bergdahl case.

上星期在布鲁塞尔，奥巴马总统没有对他的政府处理伯格达尔事件道歉。

“I am never surprised by controversies¹³ whipped up in Washington.  We have a basic principle: we do not leave anybody wearing the American uniform behind,” said Obama.

奥巴马总统说：“我永远都不会对华盛顿掀起的争议感到吃惊。我们的基本原则是：不会丢下任何穿美军军服的人。”

The controversy has dampened initial celebrations over the release of Bergdahl, who is expected to receive further medical treatment in the United States.

 

争议给伯格达尔刚获释时的欢庆泼了一盆冷水。预计伯格达尔返回美国后将继续接受治疗。

1 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

2 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

3 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

4 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。

5 ebbing   

（指潮水）退( ebb的现在分词 )； 落； 减少； 衰落

参考例句：

• The pain was ebbing. 疼痛逐渐减轻了。
• There are indications that his esoteric popularity may be ebbing. 有迹象表明，他神秘的声望可能正在下降。

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 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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》

9 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。

10 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。

11 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

12 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

13 controversies   

争论

参考例句：

• We offer no comment on these controversies here. 对于这些争议，我们在这里不作任何评论。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon. 围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。 来自辞典例句