VOA慢速英语 IN THE NEWS - Obama Returns From First Official Trip

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

President Obama returned to the United States this week after his first visit to Europe since taking office in January.
　
President Obama meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Tuesday

On his way back, the president made an unannounced stop in Iraq. He met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. He also visited American military troops at Camp Victory, near Baghdad. President Obama offered his thanks and support to a group of cheering troops. He said it is time for the Iraqis to take responsibility for their country. Mister Obama has said the United States will remove most American fighting forces from Iraq by the end of two thousand ten.

Earlier, Mister Obama traveled to Turkey for his first official visit to a mostly Muslim country. He met with university students and with Turkish President Abdullah Gul. He also spoke¹ to the Turkish parliament. He promised to rebuild relations between the United States and the Islamic world.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam."

Before visiting Iraq and Turkey, the president was in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. He met with European Union leaders and spoke to a crowd of about twenty thousand people. He urged other nations to join in an effort to free the world of nuclear weapons.

PRESIDENT OBAMA:"Today I state clearly and with conviction² America's commitment to seek the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons."

He said all nations with nuclear weapons should be involved.

PRESIDENT OBAMA : "As the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act. We cannot succeed in this endeavor³ alone, but we can lead it, we can start it."

The president spoke just hours after North Korea launched a long-range rocket. He said the North Korean launch proves the need for nations to cooperate to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and to remove those that already exist. He also described the nuclear goal of Iran as a serious international threat.
　
The president speaking during the NATO meeting in Strasbourg, France

Last week, President Obama attended a meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the French-German border. He said he was pleased that the NATO allies⁴ supported his new plans for Afghanistan and Pakistan. NATO agreed to provide more manpower and money. It will become heavily involved in training the Afghan military and police. More troops will be sent to help with security leading up to Afghanistan's national elections in August.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the NATO allies are pleased to work with the new American president. He said they trust him, and that he is speaking words they have been waiting to hear.

Mister Obama's trip may also have increased his support at home. New public opinion studies show sixty-six percent of Americans approve of the job President Obama is doing. A CBS News and New York Times study found thirty-nine percent say the country is moving in the right direction, up from fifteen percent in January.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. Transcripts⁵ and archives of our reports are at voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Steve Ember.

1 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。

2 conviction   

n.确信，坚定的信仰；说服，信服；定罪

参考例句：

• His conviction carried him along in his research.他的信心支持着他把研究工作坚持下去。
• His conviction caused rioting in the streets.他被判有罪，引起了街头骚动。

3 endeavor   

vt.／n.努力，尽力，尝试

参考例句：

• Thereupon,we knew,our endeavor was valuable.于是，我们知道，我们的努力是有价值的。
• We endeavor to make our customers satisfied.我们力图使顾客都满意。

4 allies   

联盟国，同盟者； 同盟国，同盟者( ally的名词复数 )； 支持者； 盟军

参考例句：

• The allies would fear that they were pawns in a superpower condominium. 这个联盟担心他们会成为超级大国共管的牺牲品。
• A number of the United States' allies had urged him not to take a hasty decision. 美国的一些盟友已力劝他不要急于作决定。

5 transcripts   

n.抄本（ transcript的名词复数 ）；转写本；文字本；副本

参考例句：

• Like mRNA, both tRNA and rRNA are transcripts of chromosomal DNA. tRNA及rRNA同mRNA一样，都是染色体DNA的转录产物。 来自辞典例句
• You can't take the transfer students'exam without your transcripts. 没有成绩证明书，你就不能参加转学考试。 来自辞典例句