VOA标准英语2014--Obama Faces Opposition on Cuba

 

Obama Faces Opposition¹ on Cuba

WASHINGTON—

President Barack Obama has announced efforts to normalize relations with Cuba after an embargo² of more than 50 years. But some opponents say Obama is overreaching his authority and that Congress can overrule him. Several legislative³ obstacles may stand in the way of normal relations with Cuba.

Hope fills the streets of Cuba’s capital as residents hear about President Obama’s plan to restore relations with Cuba. Abiel San Miguel, a restaurant owner in Havana, is excited.

"I am happy. I hope this will be the beginning of the end of illogical things, which have no reason to exist, and which have been shown to be obsolete," said San Miguel.

But there are differing opinions at a Cuban neighborhood in Florida.

"Obama is making all the concessions⁴ and what are we getting from the Castro?" asked one local.

Change could come to Cuba, but not quickly. It will take time for the State Department to review Cuba's designation as a terrorist sponsor. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson said an evaluation⁵ is upcoming.

“We have to look at whether they have renounced⁶ the use of terrorism. We have to look at their ratification⁷ of international instruments against terrorism,” said Jacobson.

Next, the president can ease some financial restrictions⁸, but constitutionally he cannot lift the trade embargo that dates back to the 1960s. Mike Gonzalez from the Heritage Foundation spoke⁹ to VOA via Skype and pointed¹⁰ out the Congressional prerogative¹¹.

"The embargo can only be changed and amended¹² by Congress. Mr. Obama, the executive, has no legislative powers," said Gonzalez.

All six Cuban American members of Congress -- regardless of political affiliation¹³ -- oppose the president’s proposals. 

Carl Meacham from the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that disapproval¹⁴ also could extend to diplomatic measures, such as the president's plan to open a U.S. embassy in Cuba. Senators could also refuse to confirm the ambassador.

“The Congress funds these embassies, funds the government, so will these senators be ok with funding an embassy or will they oppose it?” asked Meacham.

Restoring a diplomatic relationship with Cuba is constitutionally the president’s right. But Congress carries the "power of the purse" and could refuse to fund anything that he proposes.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

5 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

6 renounced   

v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• We have renounced the use of force to settle our disputes. 我们已再次宣布放弃使用武力来解决争端。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Andrew renounced his claim to the property. 安德鲁放弃了财产的所有权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 ratification   

n.批准，认可

参考例句：

• The treaty is awaiting ratification.条约正等待批准。
• The treaty is subject to ratification.此条约经批准后才能生效。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

10 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

11 prerogative   

n.特权

参考例句：

• It is within his prerogative to do so.他是有权这样做的。
• Making such decisions is not the sole prerogative of managers.作这类决定并不是管理者的专有特权。

12 Amended   

adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He asked to see the amended version. 他要求看修订本。
• He amended his speech by making some additions and deletions. 他对讲稿作了些增删修改。

13 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

14 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。