双语新闻：美国参议院批准哈格尔出任国防部长

英语自学网

　　Hagel Is Confirmed as Defense Secretary
        　　Chuck Hagel won Senate approval Tuesday to become defense secretary, gaining control of the Pentagon after a pitched battle and as budget cuts loom.
        　　美国参议院周二批准哈格尔(Chuck Hagel)任国防部长。在经过了激烈的斗争后，哈格尔得以执掌五角大楼。目前也恰逢预算削减迫近之际。
        　　Mr. Hagel was confirmed in a 58-to-41 vote, the smallest margin for any defense secretary in history. The vote, largely along party lines, ended an unusually contentious fight over a cabinet nominee that some believe could leave the soon-to-be Pentagon chief in a weakened position. He succeeds Leon Panetta in the job.
        　　哈格尔的防长提名以58票赞成、41票反对获得确认，这是美国有史以来国防部长人选获得的赞成票和反对票差额最小的一次。投票表决从很大程度上分为民主党和共和党两大阵营。这场围绕国防部长人选的异常激烈的斗争由此划上了句号。一些人认为这位候任国防部长的权力会因此削弱。哈格尔将接替帕内塔(Leon Panetta)担任国防部长。
        　　'I think that he's got some work to do,' said Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R., N.H.), who voted against confirming Mr. Hagel. 'Traditionally it's been a strong measure to have your secretary of defense have overwhelming bipartisan support and he does not have that.'
        　　新罕布什尔州共和党参议员艾约特(Kelly Ayotte)说，我认为他有的要应付了。艾约特投了反对票。他说，传统上，国防部长拥有两党的强大支持工作会更容易展开，但他没有两党的支持。
        　　Democrats said the partisan fight wouldn't hurt Mr. Hagel in his new role.
        　　民主党说，两党之间的斗争不会损及哈格尔履行国防部长职责的能力。
        　　In a statement, President Barack Obama said: 'I will be counting on Chuck's judgment and counsel as we end the war in Afghanistan, bring our troops home, stay ready to meet the threats of our time and keep our military the finest fighting force in the world.'
        　　美国总统奥巴马(Barack Obama)在一份声明中说，在结束阿富汗战争、撤军、随时准备应对现今的威胁以及使我们的军队保持世界上最佳作战部队状态等方面，我将依靠哈格尔的判断和建议。
        　　Mr. Hagel takes the helm at the Pentagon with an array of budget cuts known as the sequester set to kick in on Friday. The cuts mean deep reductions in defense spending, unless Congress strikes a compromise to prevent them.
        　　哈格尔出任国防部长之际，恰逢一系列的预算削减将于周五生效之际。预算削减意味着防务支出大幅减少，除非国会做出让步防止预算削减。
        　　A former Republican senator from Nebraska and a Vietnam War veteran, Mr. Hagel will become the first defense secretary in history required to garner 60 votes to win confirmation. Earlier Tuesday, more than a dozen Senate Republicans put aside qualms about Mr. Hagel to join Democrats in a procedural vote that effectively ended a filibuster, paving the way for a confirmation vote.
        　　哈格尔曾是内布拉斯加州共和党参议员，也是越南老兵，他将是有史以来第一位必须获得60票赞成票以获得确认的国防部长。周二早些时候，在一项按照程序进行的投票中，有10多位共和党参议员搁置对哈格尔的担心，加入到民主党参议员的阵营投了赞成票。投票实际上结束了共和党通过阻挠议事的手段拖延提名确认的局面，为确认提名铺平了道路。