Republican candidates who want to replace President Barack Obama sparred in Washington Tuesday night in one of the few televised debates centered on foreign policy issues.
希望取代奥巴马总统的共和党总统参选人星期二晚间在电视上辩论美国的外交政策。
The candidates gathered just a few blocks away from the White House - where they each hope to spend the next four years.
这些共和党参选人的辩论场地距离白宫仅仅几条街。他们都想在今后四年期间做白宫的主人。
Two former governors - Jon Huntsman of Utah and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts - clashed over Afghanistan.
两位前州长 --前犹他州州长洪博培和前麻萨诸塞州州长罗姆尼--在阿富汗问题上针锋相对。
First, Romney asked Hunstman, "Are you suggesting, governor that we just take all our troops out next week? What's your proposal?"
罗姆尼说：“你是说，州长，我们下个星期就把我们所有的部队撤出？ 你到底是什么建议？”
"Did you hear what I just said? I said, 'We should draw down from 100,000.' We don't need 100,000 troops," said Hunstman. "We don't need 100,000 troops, many of whom can't even cross the wire [engage the enemy]."
洪博培说：“你没有听到我刚说的话？我说：我们应该把十万驻军的数量减少。我们不需要十万驻军。我们不需要其中很多人根本碰不到敌军的十万驻军。”
But the Heritage Foundation's Jim Carafano says global issues will change before any of these candidates can become president.
但是，传统基金会的卡拉法诺表示，在任何其中一位参选人能够成为美国总统之前，世界面临的问题就可能发生变化。
"The most important thing in the debate is listening less to say 'What would I do if I were president today' - which is irrelevant - to what kind of character do they have," said Carafano. "What kind of commander-in-chief they are going to be. Are they going to put what's right over what's easy."
卡拉法诺说：“这项辩论的最重要事情不是听他们说：‘如果我今天是总统我会怎么做。’这根本无关紧要，而是要了解他们是什么样的人，会成为什么样的三军统帅。他们是否能坚持正确的作法，而不是避重就轻？”
A current governor, Rick Perry of Texas, explained how he would handle Iran if elected president:
一位现任州长 - 德克萨斯州州长佩里，解释了他如果当选总统他将如何处理伊朗问题。
"When you sanction the Iranian Central Bank, that will shut down that economy," said Perry. "At that particular time, they truly have to deal with the United States."
佩里说：“制裁伊朗的中央银行，让他们的经济停摆。到那个时候，他们就必须认真和美国打交道。”
But what about American allies in Europe that depend on Iranian oil?
但是，美国在欧洲的那些依赖伊朗石油的盟友会怎么样呢？
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said, "We ought to have a massive, all sources energy program in the United States designed to once again create a surplus of energy here," said Gingrich. "So we could say to the Europeans, pretty cheerfully, that with all the various sources of oil we have in the United States we could literally replace the Iranian oil."
前众院议长金里奇说：“我们在美国应该有一个大规模、全方位的能源计划，目标是让美国有充足的能源。这样我们就可以轻松地对欧洲人说，我们美国这里有多种的石油资源，基本能够取代伊朗的石油。”
The Republican candidates criticized current U.S. foreign policy, even though opinion surveys show it is President Barack Obama's strength.
尽管民意调查显示外交政策是奥巴马总统的强项，但是这些共和党总统参选人仍然对美国当前的外交政策提出批评。
"There's going to be a referendum on that on how well it's worked," said James Carafano. "I think what's important is people have to distinguish what that is and how what they want to do is different than that. And, I don't think I heard that yet from any of these candidates."
传统基金会的卡拉法诺说：“美国的外交政策是否有效，选民将自有定论。我想，重要的是，人们必须听到现行外交政策和这些候选人所希望实行政策之间的区别。根据我所听到的参选人讲话，没有任何人做到了这一点。”
In six weeks, the Republican candidates will face their toughest test yet. The Iowa caucuses are the first major event leading up to selection of the Republican presidential nominee.
还有六个星期，这些共和党参选人将面对他们最严厉的考验。爱奥华州初选是共和党总统候选人获得提名的第一场大战。 |