VOA标准英语2009年-Clinton: US Bears 'Co-Responsibility' for

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States, with an "insatiable" demand for illegal drugs, bears "co-responsibility" for rampant¹ drug-related violence in Mexico along the U.S. border. Clinton is in Mexico City for talks with President Felipe Calderon on the drug issue, trade and other regional issues.
　
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives at Mexico City's international airport for official two-day visit, 25 Mar² 2009

U.S. drug officials say Mexico is either the source or a transshipment route for most of the illegal drugs that enter the United States.

But as she began a series of meetings with President Calderon and other officials centering on drug violence, Clinton candidly³ acknowledged that U.S. demand for illegal drugs is in large measure responsible for the problem.

Speaking with reporters en route to the Mexican capital, Clinton said that some 30 years of U.S. efforts to curb⁴ drug demand, including law enforcement and anti-addiction efforts, have largely failed, and that U.S. drug demand and weapons smuggled⁵ from the United States are fueling Mexico's drug wars.

"I agree," she said. "We are. How could anybody conclude any differently? Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to prevent weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the death of police officers, soldiers and civilians⁶. So yes, I feel very strongly we have a co-responsibility."

Clinton arrived here a day after the Obama administration announced it was sending more money, technology and manpower to secure the Mexican border and help Mexican authorities in their battle with drug cartels.

The secretary's visit marks the start of intensive U.S.-Mexico dialogue on the matter. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, a key figure behind this week's aid package, will visit Mexico early next month along with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder⁷.

President Barack Obama goes to Mexico City in mid-April to meet Mr. Caldron before both leaders attend the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago.

In her talk with reporters, Secretary Clinton praised the Calderon administration's performance in the drug fight, saying that Mexican forces are often out-gunned by drug gangs armed with military-style weapons bought in the United States.

She said the Obama administration intends to devote hundreds more agents and more effective equipment to stem gun-running across the border and curb illegal purchases in U.S. gun shops by so-called "straw men" fronting for Mexican criminals.

Clinton also said the United States must avoid protectionist policies that could harm Mexico as it deals with the economic crisis.

She said the Obama administration is making progress with the U.S. Congress in efforts to end a dispute over access to the United States by Mexican truckers that has spurred heavy Mexican tariffs⁸ against American goods.

1 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

2 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

3 candidly   

adv.坦率地，直率而诚恳地

参考例句：

• He has stopped taking heroin now,but admits candidly that he will always be a drug addict.他眼下已经不再吸食海洛因了,不过他坦言自己永远都是个瘾君子。
• Candidly,David,I think you're being unreasonable.大卫，说实话我认为你不讲道理。

4 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

5 smuggled   

水货

参考例句：

• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

8 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。