VOA标准英语2010年-Mixed Reviews in Europe, Middle East f

Barack Obama's election victory in November 2008 was greeted with enormous enthusiasm around much of the world. Most Europeans looked to the new president to restore the transatlantic partnership¹, work for peace and spearhead the fight against global warming. While in the Middle East, people hoped he would focus on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But a year later, enthusiasm has faded.

Sonja Pace | London 14 January 2010

President Barack Obama meets with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at the G-20 summit at the ExCel Centre in London (Apr 2009 file photo)

"Even if he walked on water he still would not be able to deliver," says Tomas Valasek, Director of Foreign Policy and Defense² at the Centre for European Reform in London.

Barack Obama's inauguration³ as America's president one year ago was greeted with enthusiasm around much of the world.  Europeans looked to him to restore the transatlantic partnership, work for peace and spearhead the fight against global warming.  In the Middle East, people hoped he would focus on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.  But, enthusiasm has waned⁴.

U.S. President Barack Obama has drawn⁵ crowds wherever he has gone.  Visiting Europe last year, he was treated almost like a rock star.

For many, he was a symbol of hope and inspiration.  British students, Nina and Simon at King's College in London were no exception.

"I think he put it on the pedestal that people from anywhere could actually achieve a dream," Nina said.

"His whole demeanor⁶ is actually quite impressive as well, and that does have an effect," Simon said.

Promise of change brings benefits

Mr. Obama's promise of change, of reaching out to the world resonated with a wider public and won him the Nobel Peace Prize - less than a year into his first term of office.

Europeans liked the change in tone, but also wanted specifics, says Tomas Valasek, Director of Foreign Policy and Defense at the Centre for European Reform in London.

"We have a real stake in who runs the United States and Obama because he is so popular worldwide because he says he wants to try to bring in other actors - Chinas, Russias of this world - into the running of the global system," said Valasek.

Many issues unresolved

But after a year in power problems linger.  The war in Iraq is winding⁷ down, but violence continues.  The United States is sending more troops to Afghanistan and wants NATO partners to do the same.  Iran and North Korea show no sign of giving up their nuclear ambitions.  And at the climate change conference in Copenhagen, a bid to forge a broad alliance against global warming fell short.

Too many issues unresolved have dimmed public enthusiasm for the American president, says Valasek.

"He has opened an awful lot of issues, an awful lot of problems, an awful lot of challenges, and he does not seem able to bring any of them to close," he said.

Much the same sentiments can be heard in the Middle East.  President Obama's June speech at Cairo University, reaching out to Muslims, was welcomed.

Support for Israel problematic

But, the crux⁸ was always the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and many hoped for a change in U.S. policy.

Radi and Jumana Jara'i in the West Bank city of Ramallah say those hopes were dashed when Mr. Obama backed down after Israel's prime minister refused to halt all West Bank Jewish settlements.  They say that has let the Israeli occupation continue as before.

"A year ago, we were hopeful," said Radi. "Now we do not.  Now actually we blame the United States by [for] supporting Israel without any limits, without any conditions."

"I admired him [Obama] as a man," said Jumana. "So I am disappointed now, but I can say only one thing - it is all the American policy that will never change."

There is concern that opportunities are slipping away.  But maybe expectations were just too high, says Tomas Valasek.

"In some ways this was a mission impossible," said Valasek. "We expected too much of him.  Even if he walked on water he still would not be able to deliver."

President Obama's emphasis on diplomacy⁹ still has strong appeal and gets high marks, especially in Europe.  But, all eyes will remain on the American president to see if he can deliver the change he promised. 

1 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

2 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。

3 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

4 waned   

v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• However,my enthusiasm waned.The time I spent at exercises gradually diminished. 然而，我的热情减退了。我在做操上花的时间逐渐减少了。 来自《用法词典》
• The bicycle craze has waned. 自行车热已冷下去了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

7 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

8 crux   

adj.十字形；难事，关键，最重要点

参考例句：

• The crux of the matter is how to comprehensively treat this trend.问题的关键是如何全面地看待这种趋势。
• The crux of the matter is that attitudes have changed.问题的要害是人们的态度转变了。

9 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。