VOA常速英语2007-House Approves Bill Making Iraq Contractors Subj
时间：2019-01-16 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA常速英语（十月）
Capitol Hill
04 October 2007
Acting 1 amid continuing controversy 2 over a recent incident involving Blackwater, the largest American private security contractor 3 in Iraq, the U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would subject contractors 4 to prosecution 5 by U.S. courts. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol, a similar measure is expected to be introduced in the Senate.
Approved by a vote of 389 to 30, the legislation revises existing law called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction 6 Act.
Aimed at strengthening accountability, it extends the jurisdiction of U.S. courts to include all contractors in Afghanistan and Iraq and in any other combat zones.
Currently, only U.S. federal employees and Pentagon contractors fall under U.S. court jurisdiction.
At the same time a law approved by the former Coalition 7 Provisional Authority in Iraq made private contractors immune from Iraqi laws.
The measure puts the Federal Bureau of Investigation 8 FBI in charge of prosecuting 9 crimes committed by contractors.
Approval comes after a lengthy 10 hearing this week in which House lawmakers heard about nearly 200 shooting incidents in Iraq involving the U.S. - based security firm Blackwater.
In debate on the measure earlier this week, Virginia Democrat 11 Congressman 12 James Moran said it is needed to gain needed additional control over contractors in war zones.
"After talking with so many soldiers in Iraq and those who have returned from Iraq, it is desperately 13 urgent that we do it, because things are out of control," said James Moran. "The fact is that many of these contractors, not all of them, but too many of them, are acting with impunity 14."
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating an incident in September involving Blackwater security guards who opened fire while escorting a U.S. diplomatic convoy 15, killing 16 at least 11 Iraqis.
The head of the Blackwater firm, Erik Prince, defended the actions of his employees in a House hearing this week.
"Blackwater does not engage in offensive or military missions but performs only defensive 17 security functions," said Prince. "My understanding [about] the September 16th incident is that the Department of State and FBI are conducting a full investigation but those results are not yet available. We at Blackwater welcome the FBI review, and will cooperate fully 18 and look forward to receiving their conclusions."
The Iraqi government has said it will wait for the outcome of the U.S. investigation, although a government minister quoted by the Associated Press said Blackwater personnel involved should face trial in Iraqi courts, and the company should pay compensation.
Senate Democrats 19 plan to introduce their own version of the legislation so a final bill can go to President Bush for signature.
Reacting to the House measure, a White House statement said it would have unintended and intolerable consequences for crucial national security activities and operations, although it provided no specifics.
- Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
- During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。
- 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。
- The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
- The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。
- We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
- He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。
- It doesn't lie within my jurisdiction to set you free.我无权将你释放。
- Changzhou is under the jurisdiction of Jiangsu Province.常州隶属江苏省。
- The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
- Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。
- In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
- He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
- The witness was cross-examined by the prosecuting counsel. 证人接受控方律师的盘问。
- Every point made by the prosecuting attorney was telling. 检查官提出的每一点都是有力的。
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
- The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。
- 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。
- 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。
- He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
- He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。
- You will not escape with impunity.你不可能逃脱惩罚。
- The impunity what compulsory insurance sets does not include escapement.交强险规定的免责范围不包括逃逸。
- The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
- Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。
- Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
- Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。
- Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
- The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
- 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》
- The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
- I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。
- The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
- He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。