VOA慢速英语2015 美国前国务卿讨论国家安全

 

AS IT IS 2015-02-01 Former Secretaries of State Discuss National Security 美国前国务卿讨论国家安全

Three former secretaries of state spoke¹ to members of the Senate Thursday. They discussed how the U.S. should deal with illegal immigration, and what its part should be in conflicts around the world.

Henry Kissinger was secretary of state for President Richard Nixon in the 1970s. George Schultz served in the position for President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. And, President Bill Clinton appointed Madeleine Albright in the 1990s.

The three former officials spoke to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Ms. Albright told the senators that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine had caused more worries in Europe than at any time since World War II.

“Russia’s ongoing² aggression³ against Ukraine has fundamentally changed security calculations on the continent and marked the first time since World War II that European borders have been altered by force. Events of recent days have shown that what many had assumed would become a frozen conflict is still, in fact, red hot.”

Mr. Kissinger said the Islamic State, or ISIS, grew from struggles for power in the Middle East between states and ethnic⁴ and religious groups. He says the group threatens the existence of countries in the area.

“The continuation of a territory under terrorist control that avows⁶ its aim the overthrow⁷ of all existing institutions is a threat to security, and the conflict with ISIS must be viewed within that context.”   

Mr. Schultz also discussed issues affecting the U.S. in Europe and the Middle East. But he also talked about North American issues. He said the U.S. should try to help its southern neighbors.

“We had that crisis not long ago with all these kids showing up on our border, none of them were Mexicans. It only underlines the point that the border that we need to be worrying about is Mexico’s southern border…and we need to be worrying about and how can we help them. And why is it that conditions are so bad in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala that parents send their children north to see if they can’t get something better. We got to pay attention down there. That’s all part of this problem of illegal immigration.”

Activists⁸ from the anti-war group Codepink interrupted the hearing. They tried to make a citizens’ arrest of Mr. Kissinger. They accused him of wrongdoing in connection with past conflicts in South America and Vietnam. Police removed the protesters from the room.

Words in This Story

calculation – n. careful thought and planning that is done usually for selfish reasons

alter – v. to change (something)

avow⁵ – v. to declare or state (something) in an open and public way

context – n. the words that are used with a certain word or phrase and that help to explain its meaning

1 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。

2 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

3 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 avow   

v.承认，公开宣称

参考例句：

• I must avow that I am innocent.我要公开声明我是无罪的。
• The senator was forced to avow openly that he had received some money from that company.那个参议员被迫承认曾经收过那家公司的一些钱。

6 avows   

v.公开声明，承认( avow的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

7 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

8 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》