VOA常速英语2013--沙特官员不满美国的中东政策（在线收听）

Saudi Officials Piqued at US Middle East Policies 沙特官员不满美国的中东政策

CAIRO, EGYPT — The U.S. has downplayed recent tensions with Saudi Arabia, but some in the region say the problems may not be easily pushed aside.

开罗，埃及-美国近来不重视与沙特的紧张局势，但这地区的一些人说这个问题可能不会被轻易被推到一边。

The normally staid kingdom has rebuffed a seat on the U.N. Security Council, hinted it might go it alone on Syria, and most surprisingly, made clear its anger at long-time ally the United States.

平日以严肃形象示人的沙特拒绝联合国安理会席位，暗示在叙利亚问题上它有可单干，最令人惊讶的是明确了对其长期盟友美国的愤怒。

Saudi editor and author Jamal Khashoggi, speaking to VOA via Skype, said, “What Saudi Arabia is probably worried about is that America is only interested in the nuclear issue with Iran, Israeli security, and they will leave to us the mess that we have in the Middle East to sort out ourselves.”

沙特编辑和作者贾马尔·哈肖吉通过Skype对美国之音说：“沙特担心的是，美国是只关心与伊朗和以色列的核安全问题，他们留给我们的烂摊子让我们在中东自己处理。”

The “mess” in the wake of the Arab Spring is extensive. Saudi officials were furious over the U.S. reversal on strikes against Syria's government, an ally of Saudi rival Iran. Frustration grew over Washington's handling of Egypt. America's top diplomat called the ouster of an elected president "restoring democracy," but then Washington cut aid.

在“阿拉伯之春”之后的“烂摊子”是大量的。沙特官员就美国对叙利亚政府的出尔反尔没出兵，美国与伊朗和解表示愤怒。华盛顿对埃及问题的处理驻长了愤怒。美国的高级外交官称推翻民选总统是“恢复民主”，但是之后华盛顿停止了对其的援助。

Political analyst Mustafa Labbad said U.S. Mideast policy lately is seen largely as a series of missteps. "You have to have a sophisticated plan as a super power. If you don't have it - so, you wouldn't achieve anything,” he said.

政治分析师Mustafa Labbad说，最近美国的中东政策主要是一系列失误。“美国作为一个超级大国必须有一个精细的计划，如果没有它 -你将一事无成。”他说。

Hovering over all is the sectarian struggle between Sunnis and Shi'ites - roughly translated in Saudi leaders' eyes as Saudi Arabia versus Iran. U.S overtures to Tehran, in hopes of curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions, do not help.

一直悬未决的问题是逊尼派和什叶派之间的宗派斗争 -在沙特领导人看来就是沙特与伊朗的问题。美国主动向德黑兰示好，希望遏制伊朗的核野心但并没有起作用。

Washington has downplayed the idea of a U.S-Saudi rift, but former U.S. ambassador Adam Ereli said America needs to reassure its Middle East allies.

华盛顿一直淡化美国和沙特之间的分歧问题，但前美国大使埃雷利说，美国需要使中东盟国消除疑虑。

“We are neglecting them at our peril, because we need them. I think we are taking them a little bit for granted, frankly. And that includes Saudi Arabia," said Ereli.

“我们会自食其果的如果我们忽视这些问题，我们需要他们。坦率地说我认为，我们在对待中东盟国时一直当成理所当然。这也包括沙特阿拉伯。”雷利说。

Key strategic interests continue to bind the United States and Saudi Arabia - anti-terrorism and oil among the top issues. Many think those will outlast the current tensions. There may be a more fundamental change afoot, however, according to Khashoggi.

反恐和石油是首要问题在美国和沙特阿拉伯主要战略利益纽带中。许多人认为，这些将拖垮目前的紧张局势。然而Khashoggi认为这里会有更根本的改变在进行中。

“What is happening in the Middle East is a rebirth, something similar to what happened in 1918 after the fall of the Ottoman Empire. And it really needs stable, strong countries to manage that rebirth,” he said.

“在中东正在发生是一个重生，类似于奥斯曼帝国的倒塌后1918年发生的事情。 它确实需要稳定，强大的国家管理这些重生，“他说。

Those countries, he hopes, will be Saudi Arabia, with Sunni partners, such as Turkey. The question is whether or not Iran envisions a Shi'ite version of that scenario. Analysts believe it likely does. 

他希望这些国家是沙特阿拉伯和逊尼派的合作伙伴，如土耳其。现在的问题是伊朗是否设想在这种情况下出现一个新的什叶派版本。分析人士认为这是有可能。