2007年VOA标准英语-US-Russian Relations Remain Strained

By Jim Fry
Washington, DC
15 June 2007

The once promising¹ relationship between the U.S. and Russia is now more prickly. The strain between the remaining superpower and its former Cold War foe² was evident in statements by the two nations' leaders last week.  Then at the G-8 summit in Germany, Russia broke the tension somewhat when President Vladimir Putin offered to join the U.S. in a missile defense³ system.

President Bush, (l), shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, 07 Jun 2007

 George Bush and Vladimir Putin appeared relaxed and personally friendly. Even in the midst of missile diplomacy⁴, they could still joke.

But the once easy relationship is tested these days by a Cold War-style dispute over missiles in Europe and by the Putin government's increasing control over Russian society.

After their first meeting six years ago in Slovenia, Mr. Bush saw in his Russian counterpart a man he said he could trust. "I looked the man in the eye," said President Bush in 2001.  "I found him to be very straightforward⁵ and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul."

But the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee says the two leaders' hoped for love affair has fizzled.  "The president no longer looks into Mr. Putin's eyes and sees a fellow soul who is committed to free and open democratic societies," said Democratic Party CongressmanTom Lantos.

In Russia, anti-government protests are now common. Protesters complain of the Kremlin's suppression of civil liberties, crackdown on press freedoms and the war against Chechen separatists.

President Bush says, “America can maintain a friendship and push a nation toward democracy at the same time."

Last week in the Czech Republic, President Bush was open in his criticism of Mr. Putin's government. "In Russia, reforms that were once promised to empower citizens have been derailed with troubling implications for democratic development," he said.

"I think it was a tragic⁶ thing for him to say," noted⁷ Scholar Irina Papkova of the Kennan Institute in Washington, D.C. It is easy to dismiss Mr. Bush's criticism. She cites Russia's improving economy and Mr. Putin's wide popular approval rating.

She compares that to Mr. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq and terror suspects. "So, I think in that sense, President Bush's statements are only reinforcing the tendency in Russia to say:  'Who are they to tell us how to run our lives?'"

Two weeks ago President Putin threatened to aim nuclear missiles at Europe.  Russian officials say the U.S. proposal to place an anti-missile radar⁸ in the Czech Republican and 10 interceptor rockets in Poland could undermine Russia's nuclear deterrent⁹.

But then Mr. Putin, in a surprise move, proposed a radar site in Azerbaijan aimed solely¹⁰ at detecting Iranian missiles. "This will make it possible for us not to change our stance on targeting our missiles," said President Putin. Mr. Bush said the U.S. would consider the proposal.

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke says the missile dispute exposes badly strained relations. "The two governments are not in good communication right now," he said.  "There's a lot of anger on each side, and it is not a Cold War, but we have got to work together as we did in the 1990s."

Before Mr. Putin's presidency¹¹, Russia struggled to emerge from the economic mismanagement of the Soviet¹² years.  But in the Putin years, Russia's economy has grown steadily¹³.

"Over the last few years, Russia has become a much stronger economic power," noted Foreign policy research analyst¹⁴ Igor Danchenko. "It is much more confident, and so it is now trying to pursue a more independent foreign policy."

Russian foreign policy interests diverge¹⁵ from the U.S. on the future of Kosovo, on the war in Iraq and relations toward Iran. Yet the nation's two leaders still have close ties.

“President Bush maintains a great relationship with Putin," added Danchenko.  "He knows that he needs Vladimir Putin to get what the United States wants in its foreign policy objectives, and President Putin recognizes the importance of U.S.-Russian relations."

The Bush administration once regarded this as an new era of positive cooperation with Russia.  Indeed, talks at the G-8 summit were cordial.  And Mr. Putin's gambit on missile defense will result in more discussions with the U.S. this summer.  Yet experts say Russia will continue to flex¹⁶ its muscles from a position of newfound economic strength.

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

3 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。

4 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

5 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

9 deterrent   

n.阻碍物，制止物；adj.威慑的，遏制的

参考例句：

• Large fines act as a deterrent to motorists.高额罚款是对开车的人的制约。
• I put a net over my strawberries as a deterrent to the birds.我在草莓上罩了网，免得鸟歇上去。

10 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

11 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

12 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

13 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

14 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

15 diverge   

v.分叉，分歧，离题，使...岔开，使转向

参考例句：

• This is where our opinions diverge from each other.这就是我们意见产生分歧之处。
• Don't diverge in your speech.发言不要离题。

16 flex   

n.皮线，花线；vt.弯曲或伸展

参考例句：

• We wound off a couple of yards of wire for a new lamp flex.我们解开几码电线作为新的电灯花线。
• He gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies.他收缩他的肱二头肌以吸引那些女士们的目光。