VOA常速英语2008年-US Senator Proposes Massive Increase in Foreign

By Meredith Buel
Islamabad
19 February 2008

An influential¹ member of the U.S. Congress, Senator Joseph Biden, is proposing a massive increase in non-military financial aid to Pakistan.  Senator Biden made the proposal during a news conference in Islamabad and VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has details.

Senator Biden, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says he believes Pakistan has taken an important step on the road to democracy with this week's parliamentary elections.

Senator Biden called the election, which resulted in a major defeat for parties supporting Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, credible² and reflecting the will of the country's moderate majority.

Biden said the new government of Pakistan should enjoy what he called "a democracy dividend³."

"I believe, I am speaking only for myself now, that we should be tripling our non-military assistance," he said.  "We should sustain that commitment for a 10-year period.  We should be focused on helping⁴ you build schools and roads and health care centers and dealing⁵ with the infrastructure⁶ of the entire country."

Currently the United States gives Pakistan $500 million in non-military aid per year.  So under Senator Biden's proposal that figure would jump to $1.5 billion.

This would be in addition to the billions of dollars in American aid given to Pakistan's army to fight al-Qaida and Taliban-linked militants⁷ on the country's border with Afghanistan.

Before the election, Senator Biden said the United States should cut military aid to Pakistan if the polls were rigged.

Senator Biden traveled to Pakistan to observe the election with two other members of the Senate, John Kerry and Chuck Hagel.

The three met with President Musharraf and Senator Kerry described Mr. Musharraf's reaction to the election results.

"He made it clear to us that he looks forward to working with the other parties," he said.  "He expects the new prime minister and the new government to govern.  He said he would respect the power of that prime minister in the new government."

President Musharraf has been a key U.S. ally in the war on terror, but Senator Biden suggested it is time to broaden American foreign policy.

"This is an opportunity for us to move from a policy that has been focused on a personality to one based upon an entire people and a move to a genuine Pakistani policy," he added.

Senator Biden says it is time for Pakistani leaders to focus on the future, restore constitutional order, insure a free media and an independent judiciary.

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

3 dividend   

n.红利，股息；回报，效益

参考例句：

• The company was forced to pass its dividend.该公司被迫到期不分红。
• The first quarter dividend has been increased by nearly 4 per cent.第一季度的股息增长了近 4%。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。