2006年VOA标准英语-US House of Representatives Approves Resolution

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
16 June 2006

By a vote of 256-153, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a resolution declaring that the United States will prevail in Iraq and the global war on terrorism.  Approval of the measure, which also praises U.S. troops and rejects any premature 1 timetable for their withdrawal 2, came after nearly 14 hours of debate.

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Marines from the 3rd Battalion 4, 3rd Marine 3 Regiment 5 conducting a foot patrol through the streets of Haditha (File photo)   
  

Majority Republicans described the debate as a vital expression of congressional support for U.S. troops, and a message to terrorists from the American people.

Democrats 6 derided 7 it as a political charade 8, aimed at diverting attention from Bush administration mis-steps in Iraq, and continuing violence there.

Wherever lawmakers stood, the debate occurred against the background of news that the U.S. death toll 9 in Iraq has surpassed the 2,500 mark.

Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert accused Democrats of, "supporting the troops but not the mission."

"The clarity with which our men and women in uniform understand the reason they are in Iraq is a stark 10 contrast to some here at home, who talk about this war as a war of choice," said Congressman 11 Hastert.

Democrats used floor speeches to renew long-standing 12 allegations about what they call Bush administration incompetence 13, accusing Republicans of staging the debate for political purposes.

House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accuses the Bush administration and Republicans of misleading Americans at various stages, and asserts Democrats are united on Iraq.

Nancy Pelosi   
  
"The reason for going in, the reception we would receive, or the rapidity with which the Iraqis would be able to fund their own operation, everything they have said has been wrong," she said.  "Democrats are united in saying, 'we need a new direction in Iraq.'"

Throughout, Pennsylvania Congressman John Murtha, who called last year for U.S. forces to begin pulling out of Iraq, led the Democrats in opposition 14:

John Murtha  
  
"Rhetoric 15 does not answer the problem," he said.  "Only the Iraqis can solve the problem in Iraq.  They're fighting with each other, and our troops are caught in between, and I say it's time to redeploy."

Republicans responded by citing threats to U.S. security since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, as well as successes such as the killing 16 of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq, and successful elections in Iraq and Afghanistan.

John Boehner   
  
"The events of 9/11 demonstrated that we had to show our own resolve as the world's premier 17 defender 18 of freedom and liberty, before such ideals were prayed upon rather than after, standing witness to their demise 19 at the hands of our enemies," said House Republican Leader John Boehner.

In the end, an overwhelming majority of Democrats voted against the resolution, while 42 broke from their ranks to support it.  Among Republicans, only three voted against the measure.

The debate occurred as opinion polls show significant pessimism 20 among Americans about the military situation in Iraq, and continuing low approval ratings for President Bush on the issue.