VOA常速英语2007年-US Presidential Candidates Debate Pakistan, War

By Jim Fry
Washington, D.C.
21 November 2007
 

Democratic Party candidates running for president have taken aim at President Bush's war on terror in South Asia, criticizing his past support for Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.  The ongoing¹ political crisis in Pakistan was the main foreign policy topic at the most recent Democratic candidate debate – and Republican presidential hopefuls also have answered questions about the situation.  But as Jim Fry reports, with no recent face-to-face meetings, those running for the Republican Party's nomination² have dealt with fewer foreign policy questions.

This is the sort of 'feel good' campaign appearance candidates often seek.  Rudy Giuliani and his wife Judith at the races – the final race of the season for NASCAR, the popular stock car circuit that attracts millions of fans each year. "This is our third one this year.  So, now I feel like I really am a fan," he says.

Giuliani and other candidates for the Republican nomination have not held a formal debate in about a month.

Democrats³ have watched their presidential hopefuls debate each other twice since October 30th. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards greeted his supporters in Las Vegas before the November 15th debate. 

The political upheaval⁴ in Pakistan – where the country's president suspended the constitution – was the chief foreign policy topic at the Las Vegas debate.  Democrats criticized President Bush's support for the government. 

Senator Hillary Clinton, the frontrunner in most public opinion polls, said, "We are now in a bind⁵.  And it is partly, not completely, but partly a result of the failed policies of the Bush administration."

The U.S. has given $10 billion in assistance to President Pervez Musharraf's government in recent years -- a policy Senator Barack Obama says has not worked. "And we had two goals:  Deal with terrorism and restore democracy.  And we've gotten neither," said the presidential hopeful.

Much of the U.S. assistance has been to help Pakistan's military battle al Qaida, the Taliban and other extremists in the remote tribal⁶ areas of the country.

Senator Joe Biden says Pakistan's middle class has been left out and feel no connection to the U.S. "We have to significantly increase our economic aid relative to education, relative to N.G.O.'s [non-governmental organizations], relative to all those things that make a difference in the lives of ordinary people over there."

Since President Musharraf put Pakistan under emergency rule in early November, some Republican candidates have spoken out.  Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee defends the Bush policy. "I think President Bush has done a good job of bringing the Pakistan government and Musharraf back to reality that the suspension of the constitution is not acceptable to us."

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson has warned of the danger that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal⁷ could fall into the wrong hands.

Another Republican hopeful, Congressman⁸ Ron Paul, who trails far behind his rivals in public opinion polls, is critical of current policies that he says reward nations that "go nuclear."  "The Pakistanis have had a nuclear weapon.  They have a military dictatorship.  They overthrew⁹ an elected government.  So, what do we do?  We send them $11 billion.  So why shouldn't Iran want to get a nuclear weapon?  We might send them more money."

Republicans, who have debated six times since August, are scheduled to do so again next week.

1 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

2 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

3 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》

4 upheaval   

n.胀起，(地壳)的隆起；剧变，动乱

参考例句：

• It was faced with the greatest social upheaval since World War Ⅱ.它面临第二次世界大战以来最大的社会动乱。
• The country has been thrown into an upheaval.这个国家已经陷入动乱之中。

5 bind   

vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬

参考例句：

• I will let the waiter bind up the parcel for you.我让服务生帮你把包裹包起来。
• He wants a shirt that does not bind him.他要一件不使他觉得过紧的衬衫。

6 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

7 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

8 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• 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。

9 overthrew   

overthrow的过去式

参考例句：

• The people finally rose up and overthrew the reactionary regime. 人们终于起来把反动的政权推翻了。
• They overthrew their King. 他们推翻了国王。