VOA标准英语2009-Obama Promises Strategy, Clear Mission, Publ

By Kent Klein
Washington
13 November 2009

 
President Obama speaks to US troops on way to Asia, 12 Nov 2009
President Barack Obama has told U.S. troops he will not send them into conflict without adequate support. The president spoke¹ to a military audience in the state of Alaska Thursday while heading to Asia.

He made a commitment to the nation's service members, in a refueling stop at Elmendorf Air Force Base on his way to visiting four nations in Asia. "I want you guys to understand I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests. I also make you this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interests," he said.

The president and his top advisers² have been discussing how to proceed with the war in Afghanistan. Mr. Obama told the troops and their families any plan he chooses will include sufficient support for them. "We will give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We will give you the equipment and support that you need to get the job done, and that includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to you," he said.

The president did not specifically mention Afghanistan in his talk to the troops, but he is expected to send thousands more service members to fight there. After meeting with his advisers on Wednesday, Mr. Obama asked for revised options.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says the president will not announce his Afghanistan strategy before returning from Asia next week. Gibbs also says Mr. Obama wants benchmarks for evaluating U.S. progress in Afghanistan, and will not commit to an open-ended conflict.

Public support for increasing troop levels in Afghanistan has been eroding³.  An Associated Press poll this week shows that 54 percent of Americans oppose sending more troops, up from 50 percent in October.

The president's Asia trip will take him to Japan,Singapore, China and South Korea. The global economy, trade, climate change and North Korea's nuclear program are expected to be among the topics covered in the various meetings.

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 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。

3 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。