VOA标准英语2008年-Georgia Conflict Casts Shadow Over US-Russian R

Diplomatic efforts are continuing in an effort to secure a cease-fire in Georgia and the withdrawal¹ of Russian troops from the former Soviet² Republic. In this report from Washington, VOA Senior Correspondent André de Nesnera looks at what the current conflict in Georgia does to relations between Washington and Moscow.

Analysts³ say relations between the United States and Russia have deteriorated⁴ over the last few years. Some of the reasons included Moscow's more assertive⁵ foreign policy, its opposition⁶ to U.S. efforts to place a missile defense⁷ shield in Eastern Europe and its strong objection to Washington's support of Ukraine and Georgia to become members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - or NATO.
　
Russian troops block a road on the outskirts⁸ of Gori, northwest of the capital Tbilisi, Georgia, 15 Aug 2008

But experts say Moscow's recent massive military response in Georgia to Tbilisi's abortive⁹ attempt to take control of the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia, has cast an even greater shadow on U.S. - Russian relations.

"It probably makes them as serious and as bad as they've been since the Cold War ended, since the early [Mikhail] Gorbachev days," said Marshall Goldman with Harvard University.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said if Russia does not step back from its aggressive posture¹⁰ and actions in Georgia, the U.S. - Russian relationship could be adversely¹¹ affected¹² for years to come.

Bob Legvold from Columbia University, says over the years, the United States has tried to engage Russia constructively¹³ in such areas as nuclear weapons control, climate change and fighting global terrorism.

"Now that kind of engagement, that kind of strategic dialogue becomes far more difficult, because political sentiment in the United States and in Europe has again seen Russia as a fundamental problem, even potentially a threat and an adversary¹⁴ and needs to be treated as such," he said.
　
U.S. President Bush makes a statement about conditions in Russia and Georgia, 15 Aug 2008, outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.

During a White House appearance Friday, President George Bush warned Russia that bullying¹⁵ and intimidation¹⁶ are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century. He also said he hopes Russia's leaders realize a future of cooperation and peace would benefit all parties.

"A contentious¹⁷ relationship with Russia is not in America's interest," said President Bush. "And a contentious relationship with America is not in Russia's interest."

Ronald Suny from the University of Chicago, says in the final analysis, cooperation between Washington and Moscow is vital to peace and stability in the international arena¹⁸.

"We need Russia in a number of different areas: in Balkan policy, in our relations with Iran and trying to prevent the development of nuclear power in Iran," he said. "So we don't want to jeopardize¹⁹ that relationship. And yet by encouraging Georgia, particularly by promoting Georgia's entry into NATO, we have seriously antagonized the Russians - and now we don't have that many cards to play. Basically, the ball is in Russia's court."

Analysts agree that the most pressing problem now is to enforce a ceasfire and bring about the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgia. Only then could serious discussions about the status of breakaway regions in Georgia be addressed.

 

1 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。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

4 deteriorated   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she died shortly afterwards. 她的健康状况急剧恶化，不久便去世了。
• His condition steadily deteriorated. 他的病情恶化，日甚一日。

5 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

6 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。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

9 abortive   

adj.不成功的，发育不全的

参考例句：

• We had to abandon our abortive attempts.我们的尝试没有成功，不得不放弃。
• Somehow the whole abortive affair got into the FBI files.这件早已夭折的案子不知怎么就进了联邦调查局的档案。

10 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

11 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 constructively   

ad.有益的，积极的

参考例句：

• Collecting, by occupying spare time so constructively, makes a person contented, with no time for boredom. 如此富有意义地利用业余时间来进行收藏，会使人怡然自得，无暇烦恼。
• The HKSAR will continue to participate constructively in these activities. 香港会继续积极参与这些活动。

14 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。

15 bullying   

v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈

参考例句：

• Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
• All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

17 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

18 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

19 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。