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美国民众对打击叙利亚持怀疑态度

Much of the world is watching and waiting to see whether the United States will respond to the chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 Syrians, including hundreds of children.  President Barack Obama and some leading lawmakers are calling for a military strike.  But despite the horror, many Americans seem unconvinced that U.S. airstrikes will do much good.

世界很多地方都在观望并等待美国是否会对叙利亚使用化学武器杀害上千名男女老少做出反应。美国总统奥巴马和国会一些主要议员呼吁进行军事打击。然而，虽然化武袭击骇人听闻，但很多美国人似乎并不相信美国的空中打击会产生多大效果。

In Washington, the political wheels have been turning. President Obama has been meeting with lawmakers and sending key Cabinet members to Congress to make the case for a military response.

在华盛顿，政治车轮正在运转。奥巴马总统一直在会晤国会议员，并派主要的内阁成员前往国会，说明军事反应的必要性。

But across much of America, where summer vacations have ended and kids are heading back to school, many people are weary.

但是在美国大部分地区，暑期假期已经结束，孩子们开学时，很多人对战争表示厌倦。

"We've been in perpetual wars.  It's just one ends, another starts," one man said.

一位男士说：“我们老是没完没了的打仗。一场战争结束，另外一场开始。”

"Strategic military attacks were going to happen in Iraq, and we’re still there 10 years later, and it bankrupted the country," noted¹ another man. "So, why go through that again?"

另一位男士说：“在伊拉克实施了战略军事打击，10年后我们仍然在伊拉克。这导致国家破产。所以为什么我们还要再来一次呢？”

That reluctance² to get involved in Syria is clear in the latest polls.

最近的民调也清楚地显示，多数美国人不愿意介入叙利亚战争。

A Washington Post / ABC News poll finds 59 percent of Americans oppose U.S. missile strikes on Syria compared to 36 percent in favor.

《华盛顿邮报》和美国广播公司新闻联合进行的民调发现，59%的美国人反对美国对叙利亚实施导弹打击，支持的只有36%。

Another poll, by the Pew Research Center, finds 48 percent of Americans opposing strikes with only 29 percent in favor.

皮尤研究中心的另外一项民调显示，48%的美国人反对打击叙利亚，支持的只有29%。

But what if the U.S. doesn't go it alone and has help from other countries, like Britain or France?

如果美国并非单枪匹马，而是获得其他国家的帮助，如英国和法国呢？

In that case, support for action rises to 46 percent, though more than half of Americans still say "no."

在这种情况下，支持采取行动的上升到46%，不过仍然有超过半数的美国人说“不”。

And despite the case being made by the president, for lots of people there are still too many ”what ifs”?

尽管奥巴马总统阐述了军事行动的必要性，可是，人们还有很多“可是”要说。

“Americans need to be sure of outcomes if we are going to become engaged in any kind of war,” explained independent pollster John Zogby.

“美国人民需要弄清楚，如果我们参与任何形式的战争，其结果会是什么。”

For some in the U.S., taking action is a moral imperative³.

对一些美国人来说，采取行动在道义上刻不容缓。

"I don't think it’s right that we let this madman kill and pillage⁴ his country like he's doing," one man told VOA.

Others say it's not that they don't care, but they don't think military strikes will help.

而其他一些人则说，并不是他们漠不关心，只是他们认为军事打击不起作用。

"I’m concerned about it as a response, I doubt it would deter⁵ any future attacks," a woman said.

一位女士说： “作为一种反应，我们对此表示关注。但我怀疑军事打击能遏制将来任何对平民的袭击。”

"You know, are we trading one monster for a worse monster?" asked another bystander.

而一位男士问道：“我们是在用恶魔取代恶魔，而且比原来更恶吗？“

Many Americans are urging their lawmakers to focus on other problems -- like the economy and health care -- which they feel might have a shot - however slim - of getting fixed⁶.

很多美国人敦促他们的国会议员侧重考虑其他问题，如经济和健保，尽管希望渺茫，也还是有可能解决的。