英伦广角 2009-10-11 美国国务卿会见英国首相

Any visit to London by the Secretary of State is important. But the timing¹ of this one adds interest. Hillary Clinton’s trip comes of the back of a-week-long discussion in Washington about the strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. It’s approaching decision time. Joining us talks, president Obama spoke² with Gordon Brown on the phone. Mrs. Clinton will be able to give the Prime Minister a full briefing on where American is heading.

We are looking at the situation at the ground; we are looking at the implications of the election results to be determined³ here the next few days. We are looking how best to make sure that we are coordinating⁴ right activities on both sides of the Afghan, Pakistan border. We will continue until we believe that we have done what we’ve got to do, which is to provide a stable, help build a stable government in Afghanistan.

The Americans need to keep British fully⁵ in the picture as they have the largest number of troops in Afghanistan after the Americans. UK policy will have to follow the US. The balance of forces and the scale of the task negates⁶ any other options.

"I think the timing is quite interesting in that maybe Hillary Clinton is going to dialog with the Prime Minister about the issues that they are wrestling within the White House. You know, what is your advice? What do you think, Mr. Brown? What do you think we should do to Afghan as this processes a bit more?"

Also on the agenda, Iran. If the UN inspectors⁷ fail to get into the newly revealed nuclear bunker near Qom or if they are blocked elsewhere, that mean Americans are determined to go for a security counsel resolution on sanctions. They'll be supported by the UK, also play a role in drafting document.
 

1 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

2 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。

3 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

4 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 negates   

v.取消( negate的第三人称单数 )；使无效；否定；否认

参考例句：

• Alcohol negates the effects of the drug. 酒精能使药物失效。
• The lack of deep hardening in these alloys negates their use. 这些合金缺乏深层硬化能力使它们无法利用。 来自辞典例句

7 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》