A political debate is unfolding in Washington over the proper U.S. response to the situation in Iran where election protests have at times resulted in bloodshed. Some members of Congress are urging President Barack Obama to take a tougher approach, while others are urging caution.
一场关于美国对伊朗选举抗议造成的流血冲突该如何作出恰当的回应的政治辩论正在华盛顿展开。一些国会议员正在敦促奥巴马总统采取更加强硬的方式，而另外一些议员则劝说要谨慎行事。
The president has been choosing his words carefully, calibrating his response as events unfold in Iran.
奥巴马总统一直在谨慎地措辞，并根据伊朗事态的发展调整他的回应。
His comments on the right of dissent and peaceful protest have grown stronger over the last few days. But there has been no change in his view that the Iranian people must choose their own leaders, without any outside interference.
在过去的几天中，他关于人们持有不同意见和举行和平抗议的权利方面的言论逐渐加强。但他的观点并没有改变，即伊朗人民必须在没有外界干涉的情况下，自己选出该国的领导人。
In his latest statement, issued Saturday, Mr. Obama called the Iranian government's crackdown on protesters violent and unjust. And he warned once again that the world is watching what is happening in Tehran.
Some leading Republicans in the U.S. Congress are urging the president to do more.
美国国会中一些居领导地位的共和党人士敦促总统采取更多行动。
Senator John McCain, Mr. Obama's opponent in the 2008 U.S. presidential election, told the CBS television program Face the Nation the White House must exert - what he called - moral leadership.
奥巴马在2008年总统大选中的对手麦凯恩参议员，在哥伦比亚广播公司的“面向全国”电视节目上说，白宫必须发挥更多的他所谓的“道义上的领导作用”。
"I don't consider it meddling when you stand on the side of the principles that made our nation the greatest nation in history," he said.
他说：“当你坚持使我们的国家成为历史上最伟大的国家的原则时，我不认为这是一种干涉。”
On ABC's This Week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said the president's initial response was timid and passive.
共和党参议员格雷厄姆在美国广播公司“本周”节目上说，总统起初的回应是胆怯和被动的。
"The young men and women taking to the streets in Tehran need our support. The signs are in English. They are basically asking for us to speak up on their behalf," he said.
他说：“那些走上德黑兰街头的年轻男女们需要我们的支持。他们的牌子上写的是英文。基本上他们是在请求我们代表他们大声疾呼。”
But there are divisions in the Republican ranks. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, for example, has said President Obama has taken the right approach.
但共和党人士中也存在着分歧。例如前国务卿基辛格说，奥巴马总统采取的方式是正确的。
Mr. Obama is also getting support, as expected, from senior congressional Democrats. They agree that the United States should not give the Iranian government cause to label the protesters pawns of America. Iranian leaders have accused the United States and Britain of meddling.
奥巴马也不出所料地得到了国会中资深民主党人的支持。他们一致认为，美国不应该给伊朗政府理由将那些示威者称为美国的走卒。伊朗领导人已经指责美国和英国进行干涉。
Senator Christopher Dodd says the president is striking the correct balance. Dodd also appeared on ABC's This Week.
参议员克里斯托弗.多德说，奥巴马总统正确地保持了平衡。多德也出现在美国广播公司的“本周”节目上。
"The worst thing that we could do at this moment for these reformers, these protesters, these courageous people in Tehran, is allow the government there to claim this is a U.S.-led opposition," he said.
他说：“在目前这个时候，对于这些改革者、抗议者和德黑兰这些勇敢的人民来说，我们所能做的最糟的事就是允许当地政府宣称这是一场美国领导的反抗。”
One of the leading voices in the U.S. Senate on Iran - Democrat Evan Bayh - told the Fox News Sunday television program that the Iranian government is losing legitimacy at home. He said Iran's leaders want to shift the focus elsewhere.
美国参议院在伊朗方面的一个主要声音来自民主党议员埃文.贝赫。他在福克斯周日新闻电视节目中说，伊朗政府在国内正在失去合法性。他说，伊朗领导人想要将注意力转移到其他地方。
"We should not let them change the narrative to one of meddling Americans, American and western imperialism and that sort of thing, because, historically, that sort of narrative has resonated, and we might allow them to change the subject within Iran and within the rest of the Islamic world. Let's not let them do that," he said.
他说：“我们不应该让他们把事情说成是美国人多管闲事，美国和西方帝国主义，或诸如此类论调。因为在历史上，这种说法曾引起共鸣。这样我们就有可能让他们在伊朗和伊斯兰世界的其它地方改变主题。我们不能让他们这么做。”
Bayh said the demonstrations in Iran are now about far more than a disputed election. He said the protesters are seeking a better future for themselves and their country.
贝赫说，伊朗的示威活动现在已经远远超出了有争议的选举。他说，抗议者正在为他们自己和他们的国家寻求一个更加美好的未来。 |