VOA常速英语2014--美国众议院议长表示国会应讨论对伊斯兰国动武问题

 

US House Speaker: Congress Should Debate Authorization¹ Against IS 美国众议院议长表示国会应讨论对伊斯兰国动武问题

WASHINGTON— 

As wave after wave of U.S. airstrikes target Islamic State militants², the speaker of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives says he would be willing to call Congress back into session to debate a formal, broad authorization for the use of military force. Legislators left Washington 10 days ago for a seven-week recess³.

Every day brings new U.S.-led bombardments on Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria. But Washington is unusually quiet, as lawmakers campaign across the country ahead of midterm elections in November.

美国领导的对于在伊拉克和叙利亚境内伊斯兰国的打击每一天都有新消息传回。但随着11月中期选举之前议员们在全国掀起一片竞选热潮华盛顿却格外平静。

House Speaker John Boehner says President Barack Obama does have authority to order military strikes against Islamic State, also known as ISIL. But he says Obama should bring Congress back to request a broad authorization from lawmakers.

众议院议长约翰·博纳称美国总统巴拉克·奥巴马的确授权命令军事打击伊斯兰国,这个恐怖组织也被称作ISIL。但是他表示奥巴马也应该召集国会听取议员们的意见。

“The president has not done that. He believes he has the authority under existing resolutions. I think he does have the authority to do it. But the point I have been making is that this is a proposal the Congress ought to consider.”

“总统没有那样做。他相信自己根据现有决议拥有权力。我认为他的确有权下达命令。但我想说的是国会的提议也应该在总统的考虑范围之内。”

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That point was echoed weeks ago by the top Democrat⁴ on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Robert Menendez.

几周前美参议院外交委员会民主党领袖罗伯特·梅南德斯也曾表达过这样的观点 。

“Temporary and targeted air strikes in Iraq and Syria fall under the president's powers as commander-in-chief. But if the military campaign lasts for an extended period of time, which I gather it will, it is my belief Congress will need to approve an ISIL-specific authorization for the use of military force.”

“作为总司令对伊拉克和叙利亚下达临时且有针对性的空中打击当属总统的权力范围。但如果军事行动要持续一段时间,我认为,我相信国会会需要批准授权才能专门针对ISIL使用武力。”

Earlier this month, lawmakers approved one component⁵ of the president's military plan: equipping and training moderate Syrian rebels. The administration says Congress is free to do more on its own, as Secretary of State John Kerry recently reminded lawmakers.

本月早些时候,国会批准了总统的一项军事计划:即武装及训练温和叙利亚反对派。政府表示国会可以自由采取更多行动,正如国务卿约翰·克里最近提醒国会议员们时候所说的。

“Do it. Pass it. We would love to have you do it. But we are not going to get stuck in a situation when we have the authority of not exercising our authority to do what we believe we need to do to protect the country.”

“放手去干。让议案通过。我们希望你们这样做。但是我们不会陷入希望保护这个国家但却不能的尴尬境地。”

But absent a formal presidential request, Congress is unlikely to reconvene until after the November elections.

但由于缺少正式的总统申请,国会要到11月选举之后才有可能再次召开集会。

Meanwhile, the air campaign continues.

与此同时,空中打击仍在持续。

U.S. Defense⁶ Secretary Chuck Hagel. “Along with France, we have conducted over 200 air strikes in Iraq against ISIL and in support of Iraqi forces. With our Arab partners, we have conducted 43 air strikes in Syria.”

美国国防部长查克·哈格尔说道。“我们同法国一起实施了超过200次空袭打击伊拉克境内的ISIL恐怖分子并且支持伊拉克军队。我们与阿拉伯伙伴携手在叙利亚进行了43次空中打击。”

The Pentagon chief noted⁷ that a growing number of NATO allies announced their intention to participate in the effort to weaken and ultimately destroy the Islamic State.

这位美国国防部部长指出越来越多的北约盟国也表示打算加入到削弱并最终摧毁伊斯兰国的力量中来。

1 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。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

4 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。

5 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

6 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。

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。