Foreign Policy, Security Issues Return to Center Stage of US

 

By Jim Malone

Foreign policy and national security issues returned to center stage in the U.S. presidential election campaign Tuesday.
The presumed Democratic presidential nominee¹, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, continued a series of speeches on national security issues during a campaign appearance in Florida.
Senator Kerry outlined a series of proposals to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists. Mr. Kerry said if he were elected president, he would make it a priority to secure weapons and nuclear materials in the former Soviet² Union and would also work to end nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.
"As president, my number one security goal to protect the United States of America and to win the war on terror most effectively will be to prevent the terrorists from gaining weapons of mass murder and ensure that hostile states disarm³. That is our priority," he said.
Foreign policy was also a major focus at the White House where President Bush welcomed the formation of a new Iraqi interim⁴ government. The president also pledged that the U.S. led coalition⁵ in Iraq will meet the June 30 deadline for the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqi people.
"The will of Iraqis and our coalition is firm,” he said. “We will not be deterred⁶ by violence and terror. We will stand together and ensure that the future of Iraq is a future of freedom."
The Kerry campaign meanwhile issued a new television advertisement slated⁷ to run in 19 states over the next few weeks that touts⁸ the senator's experience in both domestic and foreign policy issues and emphasizes his view of the United States as a country of "optimists⁹."
Kerry Ad: "A strong military and strong alliances to defeat terror. America. Stronger at home. Respected in the world. John Kerry for president."
The Bush campaign continues to run ads of its own questioning Senator Kerry's record on terrorism, defense¹⁰ and foreign policy.
The latest public opinion polls, as they have for weeks now, indicate the November election is likely to be very close.
Jim Malone, VOA News, Washington.注释：
nominee  候选人
former Soviet Union 前苏联（在1991年解体）
interim government 过渡政府
deter 阻止
tout 吹捧
optimist 乐天派, 乐观者
opinion polls 民意测验

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

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 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

4 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 deterred   

v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I told him I wasn't interested, but he wasn't deterred. 我已告诉他我不感兴趣，可他却不罢休。
• Jeremy was not deterred by this criticism. 杰里米没有因这一批评而却步。 来自辞典例句

7 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

8 touts   

n.招徕( tout的名词复数 )；（音乐会、体育比赛等的）卖高价票的人；侦查者；探听赛马的情报v.兜售( tout的第三人称单数 )；招揽；侦查；探听赛马情报

参考例句：

• Many vouchers are returned for cash, allowing touts and middle men to make a healthy margin. 许多月饼券都被兑换成现金，这让券贩子和中间商赚取了不蜚的利润。 来自互联网
• Spotting prey, the customary crowd of hustlers and touts swarmed around, jostling for my business. 照例有大群的拉客黄牛在寻觅猎物，他们争相过来抢我的生意。 来自互联网

9 optimists   

n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Even optimists admit the outlook to be poor. 甚至乐观的人都认为前景不好。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Optimists reckon house prices will move up with inflation this year. 乐观人士认为今年的房价将会随通货膨胀而上涨。 来自辞典例句

10 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。