51 众议院反对布什关于缩减伊朗及利比亚制裁期限的提议

Lawmakers Rebuff Bush On Iran, Libya Sanctions

David Swan

Capitol Hill

20 Jun 2001 22:22 UTC

A key U.S. House of Representatives committee has voted to keep economic 1)sanctions on Iran and Libya for five more years. The lawmakers 2)rebuffed the Bush administration's call for the extension to be limited to a shorter period.

The International Relations 3)panel overwhelmingly 4)turned down a White House request for leeway in the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. The panel voted to maintain the law for five years, instead of the two years the administration wanted.

The State Department asked for the shorter time frame to give Mr. Bush a freer hand in dealing 1 with the two countries. Those who backed the request said the committee should 5)defer 2 to the president, with some arguing the sanctions are not working anyway. Republican Congressman 3 Ron Paul says the United States should at least consider a different strategy.

"Five years represents a sort of a closed-minded approach, that we can't even review it after two years," he said. "And this [different approach], at least, gives a little bit of 6)flexibility 4, and a little bit of 7)recognition that we're willing to work with both Iran and Libya."

But most members of the panel rejected those sentiments, saying the five-year extension is needed because of Iranian and Libyan support for terrorism. The law is designed to punish that support by 8)blocking outside investment in the nations' oil fields.

Democratic Congressman Tom Lantos declared the two governments have not changed their behavior. Among other things, he says, Iran's newly re-elected President Khatami is not the 9)moderate he claims to be.

"He's fully 5 in support of the most 10)aggressive policies in the Middle East, underwriting terrorism and 11)denouncing the peace process, and attempting to eliminate the one political democracy in the region [Israel]," said Rep. Lantos.

The powerful pro-Israel lobby is strongly supporting the five-year extension of the law. The committee vote sends the bill on to the House floor for likely approval. The measure also enjoys strong support in the Senate.

(1)      sanction[5sANkF(E)n]n. v.批准, 同意, 支持, 制裁, 认可

(2)      rebuff[rI`bQf]n. v.回绝

(3)      panel[5pAn(E)l]n.座谈小组, 全体陪审员

(4)      turn down v.(被)向下折转, 拒绝

(5)      defer to尊重, 顺从

(6)      flexibility n.弹性, 适应性, 机动性, 挠性

(7)      recognition[rekE^5nIF(E)n]n.赞誉, 承认, 重视

(8)      block[blCk]n.木块,街区,阻滞vt.防碍, 阻塞

(9)      moderate[5mRdErEt]adj.中等的, 适度的v.缓和

(10)      aggressive[5E^resIv]adj.好斗的, 有闯劲的, 侵略性的

(11)      denounce[dI5naJns]vt.公开指责, 公然抨击, 谴责