必克VOA新闻：奥巴马会见北约秘书长拉斯穆森

Obama, Rasmussen Meet as Multiple Crises Face NATO

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has met with President Barack Obama to discuss the pressing crises facing the alliance in two different parts of the world. Tuesday's meeting at the White House came as NATO prepares for a critical summit in September.

There were smiles as t Obama met Rasmussen in the Oval Office. But half a world away, in Afghanistan, their concerns were front and center. Four NATO soldiers were killed Tuesday in a suicide bombing in eastern Parwan province…while allegations of fraud marred the result of the country’s presidential election with both candidates claiming victory --- clouding NATO's future in the country.

“If there is no clarification before the NATO summit in September, then of course it’s hard to see how the security agreement can be signed before the summit and in that case we would be faced with severe problems as regards planning for a training mission after 2014,” said Rasmussen.

The U.S. has 31,000 troops in Afghanistan, with another 17,000 from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

But without that new security agreement, those levels could drop to almost nothing, opening the door for more instability.

Then, there’s pressure from Russia, which continues to occupy Crimea and back separatists in eastern Ukraine.

“Given renewed concerns or new concerns - about Russian policy and Russian behavior, you’re going to see a renewed focus in NATO on the alliance’s original purpose, which was to provide for the collective defense,” stated former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer.

The U.S. and NATO have taken steps to reassure members like Poland and the Baltic states, who are worried that Russia may try something similar against them.

But there are differences over how far NATO and its partners should go.

“I don’t think you can totally isolate a country like Russia, neither do we seek to do that but we are sending very clear signals that their policies are not acceptable and it has an economic price,” noted Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

But others, like Jorge Benitez at the Atlantic Council say the U.S. and NATO have not been clear enough. “We’re very much risk averse here, and even though Putin is in a very much weaker position, he is willing to incur cost and pay the cost to enforce his position and that’s why his position is winning so far," he said.

Another concern for NATO - a lack of support for defense spending.

The secretary general says if all members met their minimum requirement, the alliance would have had an extra $90 billion …a critical issue at a time when NATO is facing threats on multiple fronts.

 

词汇解析

natural

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.自然的；天然的；私生的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

It is natural that he should fall in love with such a beautiful girl.

他爱上那位美丽的姑娘是很自然的事。

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rural

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.农村的，乡村的，田园的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The rural scenery was so beautiful that he decided to stay one more week.

乡村风光太美了，以致于他决定再多呆一星期。

In rural Nepal, owning a book is something many women and children only dream about.

在尼泊尔的乡下,拥有一本书是许多妇女儿童只能梦想的事情。

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expert

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.专家；能手

adj.熟练的；内行的

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

She is a reputable expert.

她是个有声望的专家。

用作形容词 (adj.)

The surgeon cut away the tumour with expert skill.

外科大夫用熟练的技术把肿瘤切去。

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limited

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.有限的；被限制的

动词limit的过去式和过去分词形式.

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

We had only limited communion with the natives.

我们与本地人的交往有限。

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intensity

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.强度；强烈；紧张

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The pain increased in intensity.

疼痛越来越剧烈。

The storm resumed with even greater intensity.

风暴更猛烈地再度肆虐。

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sunrise

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.【U】日出

n.【C】(太阳升起时的)一片天空

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The beauty of the sunrise is beyond description.

日出的美景难以描述。

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reputation

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.好名声；声誉，名声，名气

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.

这家商店因公平交易而获好名声。

He earned a high reputation for his learning.

他在学识方面享有很高的声誉。

 

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