美国有线新闻 CNN 2012-09-22

 First up today, we are talking about foreign policy. This is something that every country and especially its leader deal with. Basically, foreign policy includes the ways, in which one country interacts with the other countries of the world. So basically, what happens outside of a country`s border. This includes issues like global trade, international treaties and military missions. In the U.S. foreign policy is a big issue during a presidential election. In fact, it will be the only focus for one of this year`s presidential debates. Some of the big foreign policy topics for the U.S. includes things like the European debt crisis, Iran`s controversial nuclear program, economic trade agreements with China and, of course, the war in Afghanistan. This last one is what this next report is about.

 

 

 

The U.S. has tens of thousands of troops there. But its involvement in Afghanistan is winding¹ down, and this year`s presidential candidates, Barack Obama and Mitt² Romney have different ideas on how that process should go. Chris Lawrence compares their views.

Who never sits in the Oval Office

 

will have to decide how the U.S. hands over to the Afghans. And that`s where we see the biggest difference, when it comes to talking with the Taliban.

 

We`re pursuing a negotiated peace. In coordination³ with the Afghan government, my administration has been in direct discussions with the Taliban.

 

While President Obama makes a distinction between Taliban and al-Qaeda, Governor Romney says he won`t haggle⁴ with the group that has killed American troops.

We don`t negotiate with terrorists, I do not negotiate with the Taliban. That`s something for the Afghans to decide how they are going to pursue their course in the future.

So, there is negotiation⁵ versus⁶ no negotiation with the Taliban. President Obama announced an end day years in advance. Government Romney opposed publicizing that day.

 

The president ended the surge this month, during the fighting season. The governor would have kept additional troops there through December.

 

Analysts⁷ say neither man has spent much time talking about the war, but Mark Jacobson says that`s partly because the big strategic issues like the surge and handover have been pretty much decided⁸.

 

What we are looking at now is execution of the strategy, and that doesn`t require the same sort of political, capital and time from Washington D.C. that was required two years ago.

 

The two men don`t exactly agree on how the fighting affects the nation`s finances.

 

OBAMA: Because after two wars that have cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, it`s time to do some nation building right here at home.

 

ROMNEY: Of course the return of our troops cannot and must not be used as an excuse to hollow up our military through devastating⁹ defense¹⁰ budget cuts.

 

So, the biggest difference on Afghanistan? Maybe how to spend the money when the war is over. Chris Lawrence, CNN, Washington.

Breaking news yesterday, after we produced this show, the Chicago teachers union voted to suspend its strike, class resumes today. More details at cnnstudentnews.com and we`ll have more in tomorrow`s show.

1 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

2 mitt   

n.棒球手套，拳击手套，无指手套；vt.铐住，握手

参考例句：

• I gave him a baseball mitt for his birthday.为祝贺他的生日，我送给他一只棒球手套。
• Tom squeezed a mitt and a glove into the bag.汤姆把棒球手套和手套都塞进袋子里。

3 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

4 haggle   

vi.讨价还价，争论不休

参考例句：

• In many countries you have to haggle before you buy anything.在许多国家里买东西之前都得讨价还价。
• If you haggle over the price,they might give you discount.你讲讲价，他们可能会把价钱降低。

5 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

6 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

7 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。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

10 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。