Obama Defends US Foreign Policy

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News.

President Barack Obama this week announced plans for bringing America's longest war to what he called a responsible end. He said that this year the United States will finish its combat operations in Afghanistan, and give Afghan forces control of the country's security. Mr. Obama said that after 2014, 9,800 U.S. troops will remain in Afghanistan. But he said they all could be withdrawn if Afghan leaders do not sign a joint security agreement.

Under the president's plan, U.S. forces will be out of the country by the time he leaves office in 2017. The only soldiers left will guard the embassy and diplomats. That would be similar to the situation in Iraq, where Mr. Obama withdrew troops in 2011.

On Wednesday, the president spoke to the men and women finishing study programs at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He told them that, "you are the first class to graduate since 9/11 who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan."

President Obama used the speech to answer critics of his foreign policy. He said the United States is the most "indispensible" nation in the world. But he warned against new military interventions.

Critics have called Mr. Obama's foreign policy unclear and weak. They point to his decision not to follow up on threats to attack Syria when it used chemical weapons. They also have criticized his failure to stop Russia from interfering in Ukraine.

In his speech, Mr. Obama said that, "the most direct threat to America at home and abroad remains terrorism."

"First, let me repeat a principle I put forward at the outset of my presidency: the United States will use military force, unilaterally if necessary, when our core interests demand it."

Mr. Obama called for a new $5 billion plan to help Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Mali fight terrorists. He also said the U.S. would continue drone strikes against terrorists and support for Syrian opposition groups.

One of Mr. Obama's critics is Arizona Senator John McCain. Mr. McCain says the United States should be arming Syrian rebels. He also is critical of Mr. Obama's plan for withdrawing troops from Afghanistan. The senator spoke on Phoenix radio station KFYI, The Barry Young Show.

"We're now seeing a replay of Iraq in Afghanistan, and one can only question whether this whole basis was that he [Obama] would be able to say at the end of his term that the troops are out of both countries....But the first thing the United States of America needs to regain is its credibility."

It is in Congress where Mr. Obama faces much of the criticism over his foreign policy. Michael O'Hanlon is with the Brookings Institution. He says the president's decision to avoid military action in Syria and Ukraine is probably what most Americans wanted. Studies have shown that Americans are tired of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and do not support more military adventures.

"...you add up the whole picture, it starts to look a little weak. And then you are open to the charge that foreign leaders have figured out that you do not want to do much and they're exploiting the window of opportunity, which is, of course, the charge being made about why (Russian President Vladimir) Putin got so aggressive on the Crimea."

And that's In The News, from VOA Learning English. I'm Steve Ember.

词汇解析

joint

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.联合的;共同的;连带的;合资的

n.关节;接头;接合处;接缝;夜总会

v.贴合;连接

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

They covenanted with us for establishing a joint venture.

他们就建立合资公司的事和我们签了合约。

用作名词 (n.)

The joint isn't quite done yet.

这一大块肉煮得不太熟。

用作动词 (v.)

Does any one know who can joint sales calls?

谁知道谁可以做联合销售拜访?

principle

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.原理;原则;主义;信念

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

A bicycle and a motorcycle are built on the same principle.

自行车和摩托车是根据同样的原理制造的。

He refused to attend the meeting on principle.

他出于信念拒绝参加这次会议。

outset

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.开始;开端

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

At the outset, it looked like a nice day.

开始的时候，天看上去很晴朗。

core

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.核心;果心;要点

vt.挖去果核

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The core of our appeal is freedom of speech.

我们的要求的核心是言论自由。

This concept is at the very core of her theory.

这个概念是她理论的核心。

demand

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.要求;需求

v.要求;查问;需要

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The demand for coal begins to slacken off in the spring.

煤的需求在春天开始减少。

用作动词 (v.)

All these questions demand careful and detailed study.

这些都需要认真具体的研究。

critical

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.批评的;挑剔的;决定性的;危险的

adj.临界的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

It is difficult enough to be critical of our own mistakes.

对我们自己的错误采取批评的态度确实非常困难。

These materials become quite soft and flexible above critical temperature.

这些材料在临界温度以上变得十分柔软和易于弯曲。

basis

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.基础;根据;基底

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

His research formed the basis of his new book.

他的研究成果是他这本新书的基矗

This country's heavy industry rests on a broad and firm base.

这个国家的重工业有广泛坚实的底子。

aggressive

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.侵略的;进攻性的;好斗的;有进取心的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

His style of argument in meetings is not so much aggressive as pertinacious.

他在会议上的辩论态度并非锋芒逼人而是坚持己见。

But what impresses most is that they are aggressive in their career and responsible to their families and respectful to females.

但最印象深刻的,上海男人在事业上有进取心,对家庭有很强的责任感,而且尊重女性。