VOA标准英语2008年-Obama Vows to Visit Iraq, Afghanistan Before El

By Jim Malone
Washington
16 June 2008

Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said Monday he will visit Iraq and Afghanistan sometime before the November election. Obama made the comment after a phone conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who is visiting the United States. More on the election campaign now from VOA National correspondent Jim Malone in Washington.
　

Sen. Barack Obama speaks about his economic plan at Kettering University in Flint, Michigan, 16 June 2008

Campaigning in Michigan, Senator Obama told reporters he would visit Iraq and Afghanistan sometime before the election, but did not give any specifics.

Obama spoke¹ earlier by phone with Iraqi Foreign Minister Zebari and said later that he was encouraged by the reduction of violence in Iraq in recent months.

But Obama also said it was important to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq, something he has pledged to do shortly after taking office if he wins the White House in November.

Obama spoke about his withdrawal² plans during a campaign stop last week in Ohio.

"I think we have to end the war in Iraq. But we have to do it carefully," he said. "We have to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in."

The Obama campaign has been considering an overseas trip for some time. Official word that the Illinois senator will visit Iraq and Afghanistan came after some prodding³ by the presumptive Republican nominee⁴, Senator John McCain.

McCain has said Obama's plans for withdrawal would lead to a U.S. defeat in Iraq, and the Arizona senator has pledged to keep American troops in Iraq as long as needed to achieve victory.
　

Sen. John McCain points to a reporter during a press briefing at his campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, 16 June 2008

McCain spoke to reporters at a news conference in Virginia.

"We are on the path to victory," he said. "And that victory means that Americans come home, but they come home with honor and victory, not in defeat."

McCain met with Zebari on Sunday and Zebari told him the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is working.

The war in Iraq is expected to be a major issue in the upcoming general election campaign. Iraq generally ranks as the second most important issue in polls of U.S. voters, right behind concerns about the domestic economy.

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 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

3 prodding   

v.刺，戳( prod的现在分词 )；刺激；促使；（用手指或尖物）戳

参考例句：

• He needed no prodding. 他不用督促。
• The boy is prodding the animal with a needle. 那男孩正用一根针刺那动物。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 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。