VOA标准英语 White House Defends Obama-Chavez Meeting

A handshake at last weekend's Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago is continuing to stir controversy¹ in Washington. Critics say President Barack Obama made a big mistake in greeting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
　
President Barack Obama, left, shakes hands with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez before opening session of 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, 17 April 2009

President Obama shook hands with all of the leaders attending the hemispheric gathering². But only one greeting got any real attention.

Hugo Chavez - known for his anti-American rhetoric³ - was shown smiling as he met the new U.S. president.

The image infuriated top Republicans in Washington, including Newt Gingrich - a former Speaker of the House of Representatives and a possible candidate for the party's 2012 presidential nomination⁴.

"Everywhere in Latin America, enemies of America are going to use the picture of Chavez smiling and meeting with the president as proof that Chavez is now legitimate⁵, that he is acceptable," he said.

During an appearance on NBC television's Today show, Gingrich said President Obama has adopted the wrong approach.

"I am not against him talking to Chavez," he said. "But I think he ought to talk to Chavez in a cold and distant way because Chavez openly, constantly attacks the United States."

But President Obama has made clear that he has no regrets. He told reporters at the end of the Summit of the Americas that the handshake was the right thing to do.

"It's unlikely that as a consequence of me shaking hands or having a polite conversation with Mr. Chavez that we are endangering the strategic interest of the United States," he said.

His press secretary, Robert Gibbs, followed up at a press briefing on Monday at the White House.

Gibbs said that Hugo Chavez has used his rhetoric in the past to incite⁶ anti-American sentiment - most notably⁷ four years ago at the last Summit of the Americas in Argentina.

"Is it in our national interest to have images going all over the world of thousands of protesters burning in effigy⁸ some look alike of the American government? I don't think that furthers our national interest," he said. "The president doesn't think that furthers our national interest."

Gibbs said that engaging on the world stage is in the national interest because it helps create stability in an important region of the world.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

4 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。

5 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

6 incite   

v.引起，激动，煽动

参考例句：

• I wanted to point out he was a very good speaker, and could incite a crowd.我想说明他曾是一个非常出色的演讲家，非常会调动群众的情绪。
• Just a few words will incite him into action.他只需几句话一将，就会干。

7 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

8 effigy   

n.肖像

参考例句：

• There the effigy stands,and stares from age to age across the changing ocean.雕像依然耸立在那儿，千秋万载地凝视着那变幻无常的大海。
• The deposed dictator was burned in effigy by the crowd.群众焚烧退位独裁者的模拟像。