VOA标准英语2013--Americans Express Skepticism About Syria Strikes

 

Americans Express Skepticism About Syria Strikes

Much of the world is watching and waiting to see whether the United States will respond to the chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 Syrians, including hundreds of children.  President Barack Obama and some leading lawmakers are calling for a military strike.  But despite the horror, many Americans seem unconvinced that U.S. airstrikes will do much good.  

In Washington, the political wheels have been turning. President Obama has been meeting with lawmakers and sending key Cabinet members to Congress to make the case for a military response.

But across much of America, where summer vacations have ended and kids are heading back to school, many people are weary.

"We've been in perpetual wars.  It's just one ends, another starts," one man said. 

"Strategic military attacks were going to happen in Iraq, and were still there 10 years later, and it bankrupted the country," noted¹ another man. "So, why go through that again?"

That reluctance² to get involved in Syria is clear in the latest polls.

A Washington Post / ABC News poll finds 59 percent of Americans oppose U.S. missile strikes on Syria compared to 36 percent in favor.

Another poll, by the Pew Research Center, finds 48 percent of Americans opposing strikes with only 29 percent in favor.

But what if the U.S. doesn't go it alone and has help from other countries, like Britain or France? 

In that case, support for action rises to 46 percent, though more than half of Americans still say "no."

And despite the case being made by the president, for lots of people there are still too many what ifs?

Americans need to be sure of outcomes if we are going to become engaged in any kind of war, explained independent pollster John Zogby.

For some in the U.S., taking action is a moral imperative³.

"I don't think its right that we let this madman kill and pillage⁴ his country like he's doing," one man told VOA. 

Others say it's not that they don't care, but they don't think military strikes will help. 

"Im concerned about it as a response, I doubt it would deter⁵ any future attacks," a woman said. 

"You know, are we trading one monster for a worse monster?" asked another bystander. 

Many Americans are urging their lawmakers to focus on other problems -- like the economy and health care -- which they feel might have a shot - however slim - of getting fixed⁶.

1 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。

2 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

3 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

4 pillage   

v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物

参考例句：

• The invading troops were guilty of rape and pillage.侵略军犯了抢劫和强奸的罪。
• It was almost pillage.这简直是一场洗劫。

5 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

6 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。