VOA常速英语2007年-Contenders in US Presidential Race Agree on Pak

By Jim Fry
Washington
08 November 2007
 

Candidates for the U.S. presidential nominations¹ often focus on domestic matters, but they turned their attention recently to several international issues. Democrats² clashed over the war in Iraq and over what some called "saber rattling³" against Iran. And on Pakistan, candidates from both political parties said they fear the South Asian nation could fall to Islamic extremists. VOA's Jim Fry has more in one of a series of occasional reports on foreign policy issues and the campaign.

The U.S. presidential candidates who spoke⁴ out mostly agreed on the crisis in Pakistan.

As baton⁵ wielding⁶ police in Lahore put down demonstrations⁷ by the country's lawyers, the U.S. candidates raised concerns over President Pervez Musharraf's suspension of Pakistan's constitution.

"This is the most dangerous and complex relationship we have," said Democratic Senator Joe Biden.

"It's one of of the most potentially dangerous situations in the world for us right now," expressed Former Republican Senator Fred Thompson.

Both candidates expressed worries that extremists could take over the country. "This is a nuclear country," said Former Republican Senator Fred Thompson. "We could face a real nightmare scenario⁸ by seeing these radical⁹ elements or terrorist sympathizers take control of that government."  

On other foreign policy issues, supporters of frontrunner Hillary Clinton gave the senator a pair of boxing gloves after she clashed repeatedly with other Democrats.

The New Yorker repeatedly clashed with fellow Democrats at a debate on several issues, including foreign policy matters.

"She voted for a war to authorize¹⁰ sending troops into Iraq and later said this was a war for diplomacy," said her closest competitor, Senator Barak Obama.

At issue was Clinton's refusal to clearly state that as president she would order U.S. troops out of Iraq, even though she criticizes Republicans for supporting President Bush.

"They want to continue the war in Iraq. I want to end it," Clinton said.

Clinton also faces attacks for her vote on a resolution that some say paves the way for war with Iran. The Bush administration backed the measure labeling the elite¹¹ Republican Guard a terrorist organization.

Former Senator John Edwards said, "We have to stand up to this president. We need to make it absolutely clear that we have no intention of letting Bush, Cheney or this administration invade Iran."

"I am in not in favor of this rush to war," said Clinton, "but I am also not in favor of doing nothing. Iran is seeking nuclear weapons and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is in the forefront of that."

"We have emboldened¹² Bush, at a minimum -- his talk of World War 3 - totally irresponsible talk," said Biden. "We've emboldened him ... to be able to move if he chooses to move."

Democrats also battled over whether states should issue drivers' licenses¹³ to immigrants who are in the country illegally. That is what New York Governor Elliot Spitzer says his state will do.

"Do I think this is the best thing for any governor to do?" asked Clinton. "No. But do I understand the real sense of desperation trying to get a handle on this?"

Obama replied, "I was confused on Senator Clinton's answer. I can't tell whether she was for it or against it."

Republican candidates, including former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani and former Senator Thompson, have joined in the attack. "I think giving drivers licenses to illegals is a bad idea," says Thompson.

The candidates, regardless of their political affiliation¹⁴, often think their opponents' ideas are bad. That is one reason why, at this stage of the campaign, the contenders seldom speak out on foreign affairs except to appeal to specific interest groups.

1 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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》

3 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 baton   

n.乐队用指挥杖

参考例句：

• With the baton the conductor was beating time.乐队指挥用指挥棒打拍子。
• The conductor waved his baton,and the band started up.指挥挥动指挥棒，乐队开始演奏起来。

6 wielding   

手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响）

参考例句：

• The rebels were wielding sticks of dynamite. 叛乱分子舞动着棒状炸药。
• He is wielding a knife. 他在挥舞着一把刀。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

9 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。

10 authorize   

v.授权，委任；批准，认可

参考例句：

• He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
• Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。

11 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

12 emboldened   

v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Emboldened by the wine, he went over to introduce himself to her. 他借酒壮胆，走上前去向她作自我介绍。
• His success emboldened him to expand his business. 他有了成就因而激发他进一步扩展业务。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

14 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。