NBC晚间新闻 奥巴马政府仍然在考虑叙利亚计划

Obama administration still deciding on Syria plan

奥巴马政府仍然在考虑叙利亚计划

There’s a sense of urgency at the White House about the ongoing¹ issues in Syria. NBC’s Kristen Welker reports.

白宫对叙利亚正在发生的时间赶到很紧迫，NBC的Kristen Welker报道。

Now to NBC's Kristen Welker at the White House where the administration is struggling to find some kind of international collusion. Kristine good evening to you.

Carl, good evening to you. The Obama administration is trying to build an international coalition² as it determines how to respond. Sectary of State John Kerry worked the phones today. President Obama spoke³ with the president of France just hours ago. The urgency here at the White House is palpable. As protesters rally outside the white house urging the Obama administration to help Syria.

The people of Syria is uprising for freedom.

reporter: Top officials continue to huddle⁴ inside to determine how to respond. According to one administration official based on the number of victims , witness accounts and other evidence, there is very little doubt at this point that a chemical weapon was used by the Syrian regime against civilians⁵ in this incident. The administration remains⁶ skeptical⁷ about the Assad regime decision to granting UN inspectors⁸ access to the site, saying evidence may have been destroyed. One official called the move, too late to be credible⁹. The British foreign secretary also has doubts.

We have to be realistic now about what the UN team can achieve.

reporter: Defense¹⁰ secretary Chuck Hagel says he is getting ready for the next steps.

President Obama has asked the Defense Department to prepare options for all contingencies¹¹. We have done that.

reporter: Right now four guides missiles are in the mediterranean¹². Two of them remain in fire range of Syrian target. Also at least one US navy nuclear submarine is nearby. On the table, limited air strikes, most likely cruise missiles targeting key Assad military command posts.

At home, pressure is mounting.

I hope the president as soon as we get back to Washington will ask for authorization¹³ from congress to do something in a very surgical¹⁴ and proportional way.

We have to move and we have to move quickly. I think congress need to be involved. But perhaps not initially¹⁵.

reporter: But some lawmakers continue to urge caution.

We have to verify that it was directed by the Assad regime. Because that will allow us to build an international coalition which actually necessary to take any further steps in Syria.

reporter: Former sectary Collynn Powell warned that extremist figures are gaining ground inside the country which is already being chaos¹⁶.

I am less sure of the resistance, what do they represent? and is it becoming even more radicalized with more Al Qaeda coming in?

reporter: Now despite all of the pressure to act the Obama administration remains wary¹⁷ about getting engaged in the prolong conflicts, especially in the vague of Iraq.

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 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 huddle   

vi.挤作一团；蜷缩；vt.聚集；n.挤在一起的人

参考例句：

• They like living in a huddle.他们喜欢杂居在一起。
• The cold wind made the boy huddle inside his coat.寒风使这个男孩卷缩在他的外衣里。

5 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

6 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

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。

11 contingencies   

n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一

参考例句：

• We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
• We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

12 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

13 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

14 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

15 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

16 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

17 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。