VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Meets Karzai in Kabul

U.S Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul on Sunday. The U.S. Senator, who is traveling as part of a congressional delegation¹, also met with U.S. troops and military commanders. Ayaz Gul reports from neighboring Pakistan.
　
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, center right, walks along with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, center left, and other officials at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, 20 July 2008

Barack Obama held talks over lunch with President Hamid Karzai at the heavily guarded presidential palace. He was accompanied by fellow Senators Jack² Reed and Chuck Hagel at the meeting.

Afghan presidential spokesman Homayoon Hamedzada told reporters after the meeting that the two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including progress Afghanistan has made in rebuilding the country and combatting terrorism.

"Senator Obama conveyed his commitment to Afghanistan that he is committed to supporting Afghanistan and to continue the war against terrorism with vigor³. From the Afghan side, of course, President Karzai appreciates that," Hamedzada said. "We know, president Karzai has said this before, that both [U.S. political] parties are friends of Afghanistan, and no matter who wins the U.S election, Afghanistan will have a very strong partner in the United States."

Senator Obama has promised to send more troops to Afghanistan if he wins the U.S. presidential election and has called for a gradual withdrawal⁴ of U.S. troops from Iraq.

But Obama also has criticized President Karzai for not doing enough to rebuild Afghanistan's institutions.

When asked to respond to Obama's criticism, presidential spokesman Hamedzada acknowledged the difficulties Afghanistan is facing.

"We did not see that as a criticism because there is a degree of realism in that statement. And that is the fact that, while we are making significant progress in rebuilding our country fighting terrorism and making normal life for all Afghans affordable⁵, we are also facing a significant threat of terrorism," Hamedzada said.

President Karzai is an important ally in the U.S-led war against terror, but he has lately come under increasing criticism at home and abroad for not taking tough action to eliminate growing corruption⁶ in his administration, deal with former warlords and stamp out narcotics⁷ production. Critics say all these factors are feeding the growing Taliban insurgency⁸.

The congressional delegation is also to visit the Iraq on the tour of the Middle East and Europe. The tour is widely seen as an attempt by the Democratic presidential candidate to answer Republican criticism that he does not have the experience to deal with foreign policy issues and to be a commander-in-chief of the U.S armed forces. Obama's Republican rival, John McCain, has criticized Obama for announcing a strategy for Iraq and Afghanistan before traveling to the countries.

On Saturday, Mr. Obama was flown to northeastern Afghanistan where he was briefed by regional commanders of the NATO-led forces. Mostly U.S forces are stationed in the eastern parts of the country, which have seen a significant rise in Taliban attacks this year.

　

 

1 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

5 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 narcotics   

n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒

参考例句：

• The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网