VOA标准英语2009年-Bush Administration Gives Incoming Obama Nation

To many observers, the ongoing¹ crisis in the Gaza Strip underscores the fact that Barack Obama will become president during turbulent times. From wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to instability in Pakistan to the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea, Mr. Obama will inherit global hotspots requiring his attention and judgment². The national security component³ of America's first post-September 11 presidential transition - one that the president-elect and President Bush say they are determined⁴ to make a success.
　

President-elect Barack Obama (l) and President Bush at the White House, 07 Jan 2009

On the night he was elected, Barack Obama stressed the need to confront America's adversaries⁵ and keep the nation safe.

"To those who would tear the world down, we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security, we will support you," Mr. Obama said.

Days later, President Bush, who is leaving two wars and a continuing battle against terrorism to his successor, pledged a seamless transfer of power.

"Ensuring that this transition is as smooth as possible is a priority for the rest of my presidency," Mr. Bush said.

Extensive briefing involves defense⁶, intelligence, diplomacy⁷

To make good on that goal, Bush administration officials say they have exhaustively briefed the incoming Obama national security team on all facets⁸ of America's dealings and operations pertaining⁹ to defense, intelligence and diplomacy. And they have provided comprehensive reports on conflict zones around the world, with contingency¹⁰ plans and options should an international crisis emerge during the early months of the Obama administration.
　

National Security Adviser11 Stephen Hadley during an interview with AP in his office at the White House, 06 Jan 2009

Outgoing National Security Advisor¹² Stephen Hadley says this unprecedented¹³ effort is appropriate for America's first wartime transition of power in four decades.

"What we thought was important in this different kind of transition was for them to know what they have to work with," he explained, "what kind of policies are in place, what kind of relationships are in place and what kind of tools they have available - and what we at least think are the challenges that are going to hit them quickly."

Additional motive¹⁴ could be behind preparation effort

But some analysts¹⁵ see an additional motive behind the Bush administration's efforts to prepare the incoming Obama team.

Anthony Cordesman is a national security specialist at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies.
　

Anthony Cordesman

"Every administration makes a real effort to brief the transition group," Cordesman explained. "And it does so not purely¹⁶ out of altruism¹⁷. It obviously wants to have a legacy¹⁸, to see continuity in policy. And so there is a very strong motive to provide the best transition possible."

Cordesman notes that contingency plans are nothing new in the U.S. government, particularly concerning national security. He says the incoming Obama team has every reason to listen to the briefings it receives, but is under no obligation to follow the advice it is given.

Bush administration viewed McCain as better prepared for commander-in-chief position

During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-Democratic candidate Obama repeatedly criticized President Bush, particularly on national security and foreign policy decisions such as the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Mr. Bush made no secret of his view that Republican John McCain would make a better prepared and more experienced commander-in-chief than Mr. Obama.

Bush administration officials have not signaled that their efforts to prepare the Obama team in any way reflect a continuation of that view or that the transition briefings would be any less thorough had McCain won the election. Rather, they say they are aware that they are leaving much unfinished business on the world stage for Mr. Obama to tackle, and that they want to be sure the new president is armed with all possible information for doing so.

Have briefings surprised President-elect Obama?

Appearing on ABC television's This Week program, the president-elect said the transition briefings have been informative¹⁹, but contained little in the way of startling news.

"Most of what I have learned are things I have anticipated, partly because I was in the Senate and, although I was not on the Intelligence Committee, we would get top-secret briefings," he noted²⁰. "So there has not been something [from the transition briefings] that was eye-popping [i.e., astounding], but the [the U.S. national security] situation still requires vigilance."

Members of the incoming Obama national security team are not speaking publicly, but other prominent Democrats²¹ are praising the ongoing transition.
　

Mack McLarty

Thomas "Mack" McLarty served as President Clinton's chief of staff.

"In this point in time in the life of our country, it is very critical from a security standpoint to have an orderly transition," McLarty said. "And I think we are seeing that. I think we are seeing that in a very skilled, professional manner."

President-elect Obama takes the oath of office and becomes the nation's commander-in-chief on January 20.

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 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 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。

5 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

6 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。

7 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

8 facets   

n.（宝石或首饰的）小平面( facet的名词复数 )；（事物的）面；方面

参考例句：

• The question had many facets. 这个问题是多方面的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A fully cut brilliant diamond has 68 facets. 经过充分切刻的光彩夺目的钻石有68个小平面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 pertaining   

与…有关系的，附属…的，为…固有的(to)

参考例句：

• Living conditions are vastly different from those pertaining in their country of origin. 生活条件与他们祖国大不相同。
• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school. 视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。

10 contingency   

n.意外事件，可能性

参考例句：

• We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。
• A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

11 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

12 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

13 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

14 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

17 altruism   

n.利他主义，不自私

参考例句：

• An important feature of moral behaviour is altruism.道德行为一个重要特点就是利他主义。
• Altruism is crucial for social cohesion.利他主义对社会的凝聚是至关重要的。

18 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

19 informative   

adj.提供资料的，增进知识的

参考例句：

• The adverts are not very informative.这些广告并没有包含太多有用信息。
• This intriguing book is both thoughtful and informative.这本引人入胜的书既有思想性又富知识性。

20 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

21 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》