VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Seeks to Stop Guantanamo Trials

U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking to suspend military trials for terror suspects at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
　
President Barack Obama

Late on Tuesday as party-goers were leaving the festive¹ inaugural² balls, President Obama and Defense³ Secretary Robert Gates directed that a motion be filed to suspend the Guantanamo trials for 120 days. A halt to the proceedings⁴ would give the Obama administration the chance to review the entire military tribunal system for Guantanamo, which has been widely criticized by human rights groups.

Judge suspends trial of Canadian accused of killing⁵ US soldier

Military judges are considering the motion Wednesday. A military judge has already issued a written order suspending the trial of Canadian Omar Khadr. He is accused of killing an American soldier with a grenade in Afghanistan in 2002. More orders are suspected later in the day, which could affect 21 pending⁶ cases, including cases against five men accused of plotting the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Some relatives of victims of the attacks have called for the trials to proceed without further delay.

President Obama has said he will close the military prison at Guantanamo, where the United States still holds about 245 men.

Mr. Obama signaled in his inaugural speech on Tuesday that he plans to take U.S. foreign policy in a new direction.

"Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more," he said.

President to re-evaluate Iraq, Afghanistan

Later on Wednesday, the new president is expected to meet with his top national security and military advisors⁷ to start re-evaluating the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Throughout the presidential campaign, candidate Obama promised a 16-month withdrawal⁸ of combat forces from Iraq and a new look at how the war in Afghanistan is being fought.

By the end of the day, Mr. Obama might have a secretary of state. Senate Majority Leader Harry⁹ Reid says the Senate will vote Wednesday afternoon on Hillary Clinton's nomination¹⁰ as the country's top diplomat¹¹.

Shortly after Mr. Obama became president, the Senate approved six members of his Cabinet, but delayed for one day a vote on Mrs. Clinton. Republican Senator John Cornyn said he had concerns about foreign donations to the foundation led by Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton.

Mr. Obama will also tackle the economic crisis on Wednesday. He is expected to meet with his economic advisers¹² and issue new regulations, forcing institutions that receive government rescue money to be more transparent¹³ about how it is spent.

1 festive   

adj.欢宴的，节日的

参考例句：

• It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节，每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
• We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。

2 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

7 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

8 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。

9 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

10 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

11 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

12 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

13 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。