2007年VOA标准英语-Defense Chief: US Open to Higher-Level Talks Wi

By Meredith Buel
Washington
27 March 2007

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says the United States is open to higher-level talks with Iran, but is warning against having any illusions about Tehran's intentions in the Persian Gulf² region. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details from Washington.

Robert Gates (file photo)

In a speech to the American-Turkish Council in Washington, Secretary Gates said stability in the Gulf is a vital American interest and called on Iraq's neighbors to work toward ending the conflict.

"Iraq's neighbors will need to play a constructive³ role going forward, even if they haven't done so in the past, especially in encouraging political reconciliation⁴ and a reduction in violence within Iraq. This is certainly the case with Syria and Iran, who have not been helpful," he said. "The regional talks recently held in Baghdad were a good start toward improved cooperation, and our government is open to higher-level exchanges."

The defense secretary's remarks came as the U.S. Navy is conducting its largest demonstration⁵ of force in the Persian Gulf since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

The war games, which involve two aircraft carriers, hundreds of planes and thousands of troops, are taking place days after the United Nations Security Council imposed more sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program and Iran seized 15 British Navy personnel it says entered its waters illegally.

Britain and Iraq say the 14 men and one woman were operating in Iraqi waters when they were seized.

In his speech, Defense Secretary Gates said while he advocated U.S. dialogue with Iran before taking his job at the Pentagon, one has to be realistic about the regime in Tehran.

"We should have no illusions about the nature of this regime, or about their designs for their nuclear program, their intentions for Iraq, or their ambitions in the Gulf region," he said. "Still, at this time, Iran and all the actors in the region, friends and adversaries⁶ alike, are invested and involved to some degree or another in what is happening in Iraq."

Secretary Gates says the new surge of U.S. and Iraqi troops in Baghdad is designed to provide basic security and a decent quality of life for the population.

Gates says there are encouraging signs of a drop in sectarian violence, but he says it is too early to call them trends.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

3 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

4 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 adversaries   

n.对手，敌手( adversary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• That would cause potential adversaries to recoil from a challenge. 这会迫使潜在的敌人在挑战面前退缩。 来自辞典例句
• Every adversaries are more comfortable with a predictable, coherent America. 就连敌人也会因有可以预料的，始终一致的美国而感到舒服得多。 来自辞典例句