VOA常速英语2007-Rice Defends Actions on Iraq Corruption
时间：2019-01-31 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA常速英语（十月）
Capitol Hill
25 October 2007
Lawmakers have sharply questioned Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about allegations that the State Department withheld 1 information of corruption 2 in Iraq, and steps by the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to deal with it. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill.
The appearance by Secretary of State Rice came after months of refusing to testify before the House Oversight 3 and Government Reform Committee because of disagreements with the panel chairman, Democrat 4 Henry Waxman.
Waxman and other Democrats 5 assert the Bush administration tried to block congressional investigations 7 by retroactively classifying a U.S. Embassy-Baghdad draft report critical of Iraqi anti-corruption measures, withholding 8 other documents, and avoiding public testimony 9.
The State Department said the corruption-related information sought by the committee involves sensitive diplomatic as well as legal issues with the government of Prime Minister Maliki.
Secretary Rice repeated an acknowledgment that pervasive 10 corruption exists in Iraq, but continued a policy of declining comment on specific allegations.
In this exchange, she was pressed by Waxman on what she knows about allegations that Prime Minister Maliki obstructed 12 an investigation 6 into corruption by his cousin, the former Iraqi transportation minister:
WAXMAN: "Do you know whether this is true, did Prime Minister Maliki intervene to obstruct 11 a corruption investigation of his cousin the transportation minister?"
RICE: "Ah, Mr. Chairman, let me say that some of the questions that you are asking may indeed get into areas in which there are concerns about the exposure of sources."
WAXMAN: "I don't want you to expose any sources, I am just asking you whether you are aware that PM Maliki intervened to obstruct a corruption investigation of his cousin the transportation minister?"
RICE: "Ah, let me say that everything that has been brought to the attention of either various boards in Iraq or to our people is being investigated."
While not personally following every investigation, Rice said that "no one is more concerned about allegations and the problem of corruption."
Pressed further on the allegations that the Iraqi leader issued an order attempting to block high officials from prosecution 13 for corruption, Rice said the United States opposes any step that would shield investigation or prosecution.
"It would not be the intention of the United States of America that any official in Iraq, including the prime minister, the president, or members of the Council of Representatives would be immune from investigation for corruption," she said.
Congressman 14 Tom Davis was among Republicans asserting that public statements Waxman and other Democrats want to extract from the administration on corruption could harm the effort in Iraq.
"Unable to reverse [the] course [of President Bush's Iraq policy], the Democratic strategy seems to be to drill enough small holes in the bottom of the boat to sink the entire Iraqi enterprise while still claiming undying support for the crew about to drown," he said. "As that strategy unfolds, we should not underestimate the corrosive 15 impact on our diplomatic standing 16 and the morale 17 of those pursuing U.S. goals in Iraq when we gratuitously 18 flog these problems publicly without constructive 19 solutions."
Lawmakers also pressed Rice on other issues, including problems with the construction of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, and measures endorsed 20 by the secretary to exert more control over private contractors 21.
She agreed that past oversight was inadequate 22, although rejecting a description that contractors were reckless, and said an order issued by the former Coalition 23 Provisional Authority making contractors immune from Iraqi law should be reviewed:
"It will be very helpful to have a law [approved by the Iraqi government] that closes this particular lacuna [gap]," she said. "But the people in the field have been dealing 24 with the most difficult circumstances in which they are trying to protect our diplomats 25, and that they have done."
Iraq's parliament is due to consider a law that would place private security companies under the Iraqi interior ministry 26 and hold contractors accountable for actions.
The move came in the wake of a September incident in which contractors working for the Blackwater company are alleged 27 to have killed at least 11 Iraqi civilians 28 while escorting a U.S. diplomatic convoy 29.
- I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
- The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
- I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
- Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。
- 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。
- 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》
- 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。
- His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
- He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
- She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
- The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。
- The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
- He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
- It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
- The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。
- He became still more dissatisfied with it and secretly did everything in his power to obstruct it.他对此更不满意，尽在暗里使绊子。
- The fallen trees obstruct the road.倒下的树将路堵住了。
- Tall trees obstructed his view of the road. 有大树挡着，他看不到道路。
- The Irish and Bristol Channels were closed or grievously obstructed. 爱尔兰海峡和布里斯托尔海峡或遭受封锁，或受到了严重阻碍。
- 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。
- 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。
- Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。
- Many highly corrosive substances are used in the nuclear industry.核工业使用许多腐蚀性很强的物质。
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
- The morale of the enemy troops is sinking lower every day.敌军的士气日益低落。
- He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。
- They rebuild their houses for them gratuitously when they are ruined. 如果他们的房屋要坍了，就会有人替他们重盖，不要工资。 来自互联网
- He insulted us gratuitously. 他在毫无理由的情况下侮辱了我们。 来自互联网
- We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
- He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。
- The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- 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 supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
- She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。
- 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。
- This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
- His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
- 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》
- They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
- We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
- the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
- At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。