VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Visits Iraq to Discuss Challenges, Succes

Presumptive U.S. Democratic Party presidential nominee¹ Barack Obama is in Baghdad, his first visit to Iraq since 2006. The visit is considered part of Senator Obama's attempts to boost his foreign policy credentials² before the presidential election in November. VOA's Suzanne Presto³ reports from the northern city of Irbil.
　
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, left, talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, right, during meeting in Baghdad, 21 Jul 2008

Senator Barack Obama's visit to Iraq gives the Illinois senator a chance to see first-hand the security conditions in the country. It also gives him an opportunity to assess possibilities for the U.S. role in Iraq beyond 2008 - a central campaign issue in the U.S. presidential election.

Obama held separate meetings with Iraq's President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki.

None of the men made public comments after the talks. Iraqi media reports say the discussions focused on security and economic developments, including challenges and successes.

Earlier in the day, Obama visited the southern city of Basra where he met with troops and military officials.

Speaking in Washington, U.S. Department of Defense⁴ spokesman Bryan Whitman said he believed officials would give Obama what they have given other official visitors: a first-hand view of developments in the country.

"What I would expect that he would hear would be the same things that others have heard, " Whitman said, "and that is a perspective from the commanders on the ground with respect to what they are seeing, the challenges that they are facing, the successes that they are having and the areas that still need more work."
　
Senator Barack Obama listens as General David H. Petraeus discusses security improvements in Baghdad, 21 Jul 2008

Obama opposes the war in Iraq. He has repeatedly vowed⁵ to end the war if he is elected president.

Earlier this month, Obama said if he is elected, he would like to withdraw U.S. troops at a pace of one-to-two brigades per month, meaning combat troops would be out in 16 months.

The German weekly Der Speigel reported Iraq's prime minister endorsed⁶ that plan, but after those comments ignited a firestorm of controversy⁷ Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the prime minister's comments were mistranslated and misconstrued. But after Mr. Maliki and Obama met, Dabbagh said he hopes U.S. combat forces could be out of Iraq by 2010.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain says troop draw-downs must be determined⁸ by the military and political situation. McCain says U.S. troops could be in Iraq in some capacity for many years to come.

Obama is traveling with two other U.S. senators. They spent the first two days of this overseas tour in Afghanistan, followed by a stop in Kuwait.

Obama is also expected to visit Israel, Jordan and Europe this week.

　

 

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 credentials   

n.证明，资格，证明书，证件

参考例句：

• He has long credentials of diplomatic service.他的外交工作资历很深。
• Both candidates for the job have excellent credentials.此项工作的两个求职者都非常符合资格。

3 presto   

adv.急速地；n.急板乐段；adj.急板的

参考例句：

• With something so important,you can't just wave a wand and presto!在这么重大的问题上，你想挥动一下指挥棒，转眼就变过来,办不到！
• I just turned the piece of wire in the lock and hey presto,the door opened.我把金属丝伸到锁孔里一拧，嘿，那门就开了。

4 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。

5 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

6 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

8 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。