鲍威尔将在2005年辞职？

　　Powell Calls Report of His Departure 'Nonsense'

　　Mon Aug 4, 5:26 PM ET

　　【参考译文】鲍威尔否认有关离职说法

　　WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday dismissed as "nonsense" a Washington Post report that he and his deputy Richard Armitage planned to step down in early 2005.

　　【参考译文】华盛顿，路透社-《华盛顿邮报》的一份报告宣称，美国国务卿科林鲍威尔连同其助手理查德阿米蒂奇(副国务卿)将在2005年早些时候辞职。本周一，鲍威尔拒绝承认此说法，认为这纯属胡言乱语。

　　【讲解】dismiss，我们常用的是这个词作解雇、免职意思讲，但本文中dismiss的意思是To refuse to accept or recognize; reject:拒绝接受、不承认，抛弃。dismissed the claim as highly improbable.驳回这项极不可能推行的主张。

　　deputy，An assistant exercising full authority in the absence of his or her superior and equal authority in emergencies，副手。a deputy to the sheriff.代理治安长官。by deputy/do sth. by deputy,请人代表(做某事),通过代理人(做某事)。

　　step down，走下,逐步减低,辞职,下台。

　　The Post said Powell had indicated to associates he would leave for personal reasons rather than policy differences. Powell has often been at odds with more hawkish members of the Bush team like Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his deputy, Paul Wolfowitz. The Post said Powell indicated a commitment made to his wife was a key factor. Rice and Wolfowitz are the leading candidates to replace Powell, The Post said. Rice appeared to have an edge because of her proximity to Bush, it added.

　　【参考译文】《华盛顿邮报》宣称，鲍威尔对其助手暗示，自己决定以“私人原因”辞职，而非政治上的分歧。鲍威尔同布什政府内部其他“鹰派”成员经常产生分歧，这些人包括国防部部长唐纳德拉姆斯菲尔德和副部长保罗沃尔夫维茨。《华盛顿邮报》说，鲍威尔暗示辞职的主要原因是“想多陪老伴儿”。华盛顿邮报》还说，赖斯和沃尔夫维茨都可能成为鲍威尔的“接班人”，其中赖斯则因与布什关系亲密更略胜一筹。

　　【讲解】at odds (with)，(与…)意见不一致；与…不和。

　　edge，A margin of superiority; an advantage，优势的程度，强势。a slight edge over the opposition.比对手稍具优势。have the edge on，比…强。

　　Privately some officials gave some credence to the report, saying it has been assumed Powell was likely to leave after four years. The Post story is not helpful to Powell, who could find his effectiveness diminished if he is seen as a lame duck for the remaining 18 months of Bush's current term.

　　【参考译文】私下里一些官员就相信邮报的报告，并表示他们估计鲍威尔很可能在四年后离职。另外，《华盛顿邮报》的报告对鲍威尔也有些不利，因为如果大家把他看作是布什离任前18个月的即将去职的官员民选官员，他的效能将逐渐消失。

　　【讲解】credence，Acceptance as true or valid; belief.接受为真实或有效、信任。

　　Don't give credence to all the gossip you hear.不要相信你听到的闲话。

　　lame duck，An elected officeholder orsgroupscontinuing in office during the period between failure to win an election and the inauguration of a successor.即将去职的官员民选官员或其集团，他们竞选失败而在获胜者尚未上任前继续留任。这个词组的引申意思指的就是An ineffective person; a weakling.一个没有效率的人、不中用的人，即无能者。

　　Coincidentally, Powell and Armitage were to fly to Texas to meet Bush at his ranch on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

　　【参考译文】巧合的是，鲍威尔和阿米蒂奇将分别在本周二晚上给周三早上到得克萨斯州布什农场“汇报工作”。

　　【讲解】ranch，An extensive farm, especially in the western United States, on which large herds of cattle, sheep, or horses are raised.大牧场，大片的农场，尤指位于美国西部，养了大群的牛、羊、马的牧场。

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