VOA标准英语2010年-Biden, Cheney Spar Over Terror Policy

The current and former vice¹ presidents of the United States sparred over terror policy Sunday on American television. 

Since leaving office a year ago, Dick Cheney has been one of President Barack Obama's strongest critics.  He has challenged the administration's commitment to fighting terror in numerous speeches and interviews.

Joe Biden says he is wrong.

"He either is misinformed or he is misinforming, but the facts are his assertions are not accurate," said Biden.

Biden told NBC's Meet the Press his predecessor² is trying to rewrite history.  On ABC's This Week, Cheney defended his stance, adding now that he is out of office, he sees no reason to remain silent on matters of national security.

"I have the great freedom and luxury of speaking out, saying what I want to say and what I believe.  And I have not been discouraged from doing so," said Cheney.

It was an extraordinary public airing of differences between a current vice president of the United States and his predecessor.

When the White House learned Cheney would be on ABC, it offered Biden to two rival networks.  The NBC interview was recorded in advance.  After Cheney spoke³ on ABC, Biden got a live rebuttal on CBS's Face the Nation.

They sparred over the treatment of terror suspects, and the proper venues⁴ for terror trials.  Cheney accused the administration of downplaying the terrorist threat to America.

"I think that the biggest strategic threat to the United States faces today is the possibility of another 9/11 with a nuclear weapon or a biological agent of some kind," noted⁵ Cheney.  "And I think al-Qaida is out there even as we meet trying to figure out how to do that."

On Face the Nation, Biden said al-Qaida is well aware of the heightened security measures in place in the United States.  He said terrorists are focusing on smaller attacks, rather than the massive kind of strike seen on September 11, 2001.

"The reason why I do not think it is likely is because of all the resources we have put on this, considerably⁶ more than the last administration did, to see to it that it will not happen," he explained.

Biden and Cheney also clashed over U.S. policy toward Iran.  Biden said there has been significant progress in addressing the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program.  But Cheney said he is not sure the Obama administration will do what is necessary to keep Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

"I certainly would hope sanctions would work.  But I think they are most likely to work if you keep the military option on the table," Cheney said.

Cheney went on to defend the Bush administration's decision to go to war in Iraq.  But Biden countered that the Bush White House mishandled the conflict, and should have been more focused on fighting al-Qaida in Afghanistan.
 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

3 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。

4 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。