VOA慢速英语2013 美国停止向埃及提供数亿美元的援助

 

US Cancels Hundreds of Millions in Aid to Egypt 美国停止向埃及提供数亿美元的援助

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。

Egypt is criticizing an American decision to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the country. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry¹ official says the decision is wrong. He says his country is prepared to carry out what he called a political road map, which includes plans for elections next year.

美国决定取消对埃及数亿美元的援助，埃及对此提出批评。埃及外交部官员表示，这个决定是错误的。他说，埃及正准备进行他所谓的政治路线路，其中包括明年的选举计划。

The Obama administration said this week it was suspending the delivery of major weapons to Egypt because of delays in progress toward an inclusive government.

奥巴马政府表示，本周美国暂停运输一批重要武器到埃及，这是因为埃及朝着包容性政府的进程被耽搁。

The decision followed an investigation² of events since the Egyptian military ousted³ President Mohamed Morsi three months ago. President Obama has also decided⁴ to suspend $260 million in assistance to the government that followed the ouster.

这一决定是在对埃及军方三个月前推翻穆尔西总统以来的事件进行调查后做出的。在穆尔西下台后，奥巴马总统还决定暂停向埃及政府提供2.6亿美元的援助。

Mr. Obama has said there can be no business as usual following the overthrow⁵ of Mr. Morsi. American officials say this suspension is a way of expressing that point. But it is far from a complete break in American assistance.

奥巴马曾表示，在推翻穆尔西之后，一切都变了。美国官员表示，暂停援助是一种表态，但远远未达到美国彻底停止援助的地步。

The United States will continue to support programs that it says directly help the Egyptian people. It will also continue financing programs that support what it calls "vital security objectives." These include help aimed at securing Egypt's borders.

美国表示将继续支持埃及人民直接受益的项目，也将继续资助所谓“重要安全目标”的项目，其中包括协助加强埃及边境安全。

Jonathan Broder is with Congressional Quarterly, a publication that reports on American politics. He says Mr. Obama has been under pressure for not taking stronger steps after the ouster of Egypt's democratically-elected leader.

乔纳森·布罗德（Jonathan Broder）就职于报道美国政治的刊物《国会季刊》。他说，在埃及民选总统下台后，奥巴马总统因为未能采取强硬措施一直备受压力。

"There is the image that President Obama wants to present to the world as someone who stands up for human rights and for democracy. And the images of Egyptian soldiers killing⁶ protesters on the streets of Cairo is a very negative one in the United States. And there's pressure on him from human rights organizations and from some in Congress to suspend the aid."

布罗德说，“奥巴马总统希望向全球展示自己捍卫人权和民主的形象。埃及士兵杀害开罗街头示威者的图片在美国是非常负面的。奥巴马面临人权组织和国会一些人要求暂停援助的压力。

American officials say Defense⁷ Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the move in a telephone call on Wednesday with Egypt's Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. During the call, the two men were said to have re-stated the importance of their countries' relations in guaranteeing Middle East security.

美国官员说，美国国防部长哈格尔（Chuck Hagel）周三与埃及国防部长阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西（Abdel Fattah al-Sisi）在电话中讨论了这一举动。据说两人在电话中重申了两国关系在确保中东地区安全中的重要性。

Since July, the Egyptian military has led a campaign against suspected militants⁸ and supporters of Mr. Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood⁹. At least 1,000 people have been killed. Most were Islamists.

七月以来，埃及军事领导了一场针对疑似武装分子和穆尔西以及穆斯林兄弟会支持者的运动。至少有一千人被杀害，其中多数是伊斯兰教徒。

In recent days, more violence was reported, with attacks on security forces and clashes between protesters and police. Some Egyptians predict it only lead to increased use of military force.

连日来关于袭击安全部队和警察示威者冲突的暴力报道不断。一些埃及人预测说，这只会增加武力的使用。

Emad Shahin is a public policy professor with The American University in Cairo. He thinks military leaders are preparing for a final battle with their long-time enemies.

伊马德·沙欣(Emad Shahin)是开罗美国大学的一名公共政策教授。他认为军方领导人正筹备与其长期敌人最后一战。

"They think that the plan by which they managed to charge, to mobilize the anger of the people against Morsi's rule and administration and so on, has gained a momentum¹⁰ and it is really time to break down the Islamists."

沙欣说，“军方认为他们制定的激起、调动人民反穆尔西统治和政府等计划已经赢得了力量，是时候搞垮伊斯兰主义者了。”

For now, many Egyptians are still supporting the military against its opponents. But there are questions of how long that can last.

目前来说，许多埃及人仍然支持军方打击反对者。但能持续多久是个问题。

Mustafa Labbad is director of the Al Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic Studies.

穆斯塔法（Mustafa Labbad）是Al Sharq区域战略研究中心主任。

"After a while you have to solve your social and economic problems. And it wouldn't matter if you are wearing a uniform or casual wear. If you are in power, you have to solve these problems."

他说，“过一阵子，你必须解决社会和经济问题。是谁上台不重要，重要的是掌权者必须解决这些问题。”

Observers say repression¹¹ against one group may be possible. But attempting to suppress a larger movement will prove difficult.

观察人士表示，镇压一伙人是可能的，但是试图镇压一次更大型的运动将是非常困难的。

 

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

4 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。

5 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 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。

8 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

9 brotherhood   

n.兄弟般的关系，手中情谊

参考例句：

• They broke up the brotherhood.他们断绝了兄弟关系。
• They live and work together in complete equality and brotherhood.他们完全平等和兄弟般地在一起生活和工作。

10 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

11 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。