2007年VOA标准英语-Former US President Calls Blair's Support for I

By Tom Rivers
London
19 May 2007

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has blasted outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair for his "blind support" for the war in Iraq. Mr. Carter was interviewed by the BBC.  For VOA, Tom Rivers reports from London.

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Former president Jimmy Carter (8 Mar 2007 file photo)

Asked by the BBC how he would judge Mr. Blair's support for President Bush on the Iraq war, former U.S. President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Jimmy Carter painted an unflattering picture of a weak man.

"Abominable². Loyal. Blind. Apparently³ subservient⁴. And I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," said Mr. Carter.

In the BBC radio interview, Mr. Carter said that if Prime Minister Blair had spoken out against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, events could have unfolded differently. Former President Carter said the Bush administration often used Blair's public backing to justify⁵ its actions in Iraq.

"One of the defenses of the Bush administration in the American public and the worldwide basis, it has not been successful in my opinion, has been that, okay we must be more correct in our actions than the world thinks, because Great Britain is backing us," he added.  "And so, I think the combination of Bush and Blair, giving their support to this tragedy in Iraq has strengthened the effort and has made opposition⁶ less effective and has prolonged the war and increased the tragedy that has resulted."

On Saturday, Mr. Blair returned to Iraq for his seventh and probably last visit before stepping down on June 27.

He arrived in the Green Zone just hours after yet another rocket attack.

A decision on the future of Britain's 7,000 troops in Iraq will soon fall to Gordon Brown, the Labor⁷ Party leader who will succeed Mr. Blair.

Meanwhile, speculation⁸ is rife⁹ in Britain regarding Mr. Blair's future. Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reports he is on a shortlist of possible figures who could be named president of the World Bank after Paul Wolfowitz departs next month.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 abominable   

adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的

参考例句：

• Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 subservient   

adj.卑屈的，阿谀的

参考例句：

• He was subservient and servile.他低声下气、卑躬屈膝。
• It was horrible to have to be affable and subservient.不得不强作欢颜卖弄风骚，真是太可怕了。

5 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

8 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

9 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。