VOA常速英语2013--沙特美国分歧致外交紧张局面（在线收听）

Saudi-US Rift Causes Severe Diplomatic Strain 沙特美国分歧致外交紧张局面

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United States are causing a severe strain on what has been a rock-solid relationship. Saudi officials are expressing anger and concern over America’s evolving policies in the Middle East.

Saudi government officials are fuming over U.S. policy regarding the bloody Syrian civil war.

沙特政府官员就美国对叙利亚血腥内战的政策感到愤怒。

In Egypt, the Saudis are supporting the military-backed government.

在埃及，沙特人支持军方支持的政府。

While the United States is suspending hundreds of millions of dollars in aid following the coup which ousted president Mohamed Morsi.  

在总统默罕默德·穆尔西在政变中被废除后，美国就暂停了对埃及数亿美元的援助。

But mostly the Saudis are worried about the military strength of arch-rival Iran.

但大多数沙特人都担心劲敌伊朗的军事力量。

And a possible thaw in relations between Washington and Tehran over the country’s controversial nuclear program.

在伊朗有争议的核项目上，美国和伊朗的关系可能缓和。

Clifford May is president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies:

克利福德·梅是保卫民主基金会主席。

“The signs are that the Saudis are angry, that they are exasperated, that they are frustrated and I think if you had to come down to a one line reason why, it is because the U.S. is not showing leadership in the Middle East at this moment," said May.

“目前的迹象是，沙特人很愤怒很恼火，他们感到沮丧，我想如果真要说出个原因来，那是因为美国目前在中东没有表现出领导权。”

Riyadh is unhappy the U.S. has not been more aggressive in arming the Syrian rebels.

美国没有在对叙利亚叛军提供武器上更积极，这一点令Riyadh不满。

And the Saudis complained about the White House decision to embrace an agreement to remove Syria’s chemical weaponw - rather than launch a cruise missile strike against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who now appears to be in a stronger position.

同时令沙特对美国产生抱怨的是，白宫决定采取协议去除叙利亚的化学武器，而不是对叙利亚总统巴沙尔·阿萨德发起巡航导弹打击，阿萨德目前似乎有优势。

“I don’t see any obstacles to being nominated to run in the next elections," said Assad.

“我看不到有什么障碍来影响下届选举。”

Riyadh even rejected a seat on the U.N. Security Council, citing its lack of success in resolving conflicts in the Middle East.

Riyadh甚至拒绝了联合国安理会的席位，称安理会未能在解决中东危机上取得成功。

Middle East analyst Hany Al-Gamal:

中东问题分析家Hany Al-Gamal说：

“It actually wants the international community to know that Saudi Arabia, as a well-off country and a significant regional power, should have a say on the issue of the Syria crisis, and no one should impose their own views on others," said  Al-Gamal.

“安理会事实上想让国际社会明白，像沙特这样的富裕国家和地区重要大国，应该在叙利亚危机问题上有发言权，没有人可以将自己的观点施加给别人。”

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he understands the Saudis' disappointment with some of Washington’s decisions, but says the allies are working together.

美国国务卿约翰·克里说，他明白沙特对华盛顿的一些决定失望，但他说盟国会协作一致。

“And I am convinced we are on the same page as we are proceeding forward, and I look forward to working very closely with our Saudi friends and allies," said Kerry.

“我相信我们在前进的路上会达成一致，我希望与沙特友邦和盟友更紧密地合作。”

Riyadh is most concerned about the Obama’s administration’s potential for warmer relations with Iran, following a highly symbolic phone call between the U.S. president and his new Iranian counterpart.

Riyadh最担心的是奥巴马政府与伊朗更和睦关系的可能，此前有高度象征性的信号，就是美国总统和伊朗新总统进行了通话。

克利福德·梅说：

Again, Clifford May:

“The Saudis depend on U.S. leadership in that region and they see the alternative, frankly as the rise of Iran as a bully, a hegemon, eventually, maybe sooner rather than later, a nuclear-armed master of the Middle East," he said.

“沙特在该地区依靠美国的领导权，他们认为伊朗的崛起为威吓和霸权主义，或许会很快成为中东的核武国家。”

Analysts say it is too early to know whether Saudi Arabia’s anger with Washington is a diplomatic spat or a significant split in bilateral relations.

分析家称，要知道沙特对华盛顿的愤怒是外交口角还是双边关系的重大分裂还为时过早。