11 October, 2013

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

Egypt is criticizing an American decision to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the country. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official says the decision is wrong. He says his country is prepared to carry out what he called a political road map, which includes plans for elections next year.

The Obama administration said this week it was suspending the delivery of major weapons to Egypt because of delays in progress toward an inclusive government.

The decision followed an investigation of events since the Egyptian military ousted President Mohamed Morsi three months ago. President Obama has also decided to suspend $260 million in assistance to the government that followed the ouster.

Mr. Obama has said there can be no business as usual following the overthrow of Mr. Morsi. American officials say this suspension is a way of expressing that point. But it is far from a complete break in American assistance.

The United States will continue to support programs that it says directly help the Egyptian people. It will also continue financing programs that support what it calls "vital security objectives." These include help aimed at securing Egypt's borders.

Jonathan Broder is with Congressional Quarterly, a publication that reports on American politics. He says Mr. Obama has been under pressure for not taking stronger steps after the ouster of Egypt's democratically-elected leader.

"There is the image that President Obama wants to present to the world as someone who stands up for human rights and for democracy. And the images of Egyptian soldiers killing protesters on the streets of Cairo is a very negative one in the United States. And there's pressure on him from human rights organizations and from some in Congress to suspend the aid."

American officials say Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the move in a telephone call on Wednesday with Egypt's Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. During the call, the two men were said to have re-stated the importance of their countries' relations in guaranteeing Middle East security.

Since July, the Egyptian military has led a campaign against suspected militants and supporters of Mr. Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. At least 1,000 people have been killed. Most were Islamists.

In recent days, more violence was reported, with attacks on security forces and clashes between protesters and police. Some Egyptians predict it only lead to increased use of military force.

Emad Shahin is a public policy professor with The American University in Cairo. He thinks military leaders are preparing for a final battle with their long-time enemies.

"They think that the plan by which they managed to charge, to mobilize the anger of the people against Morsi's rule and administration and so on, has gained a momentum and it is really time to break down the Islamists."

For now, many Egyptians are still supporting the military against its opponents. But there are questions of how long that can last.

Mustafa Labbad is director of the Al Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic Studies.

"After a while you have to solve your social and economic problems. And it wouldn't matter if you are wearing a uniform or casual wear. If you are in power, you have to solve these problems."

Observers say repression against one group may be possible. But attempting to suppress a larger movement will prove difficult.

And that's In the News from VOA Learning English. I'm George Grow.

From VOA Learning English, this is In the News.

这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。

Egypt is criticizing an American decision to cancel hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the country. An Egyptian Foreign Ministry official says the decision is wrong. He says his country is prepared to carry out what he called a political road map, which includes plans for elections next year.

美国决定取消对埃及数亿美元的援助，埃及对此提出批评。埃及外交部官员表示，这个决定是错误的。他说，埃及正准备进行他所谓的政治路线路，其中包括明年的选举计划。

The Obama administration said this week it was suspending the delivery of major weapons to Egypt because of delays in progress toward an inclusive government.

奥巴马政府表示，本周美国暂停运输一批重要武器到埃及，这是因为埃及朝着包容性政府的进程被耽搁。

The decision followed an investigation of events since the Egyptian military ousted President Mohamed Morsi three months ago. President Obama has also decided to suspend $260 million in assistance to the government that followed the ouster.

这一决定是在对埃及军方三个月前推翻穆尔西总统以来的事件进行调查后做出的。在穆尔西下台后，奥巴马总统还决定暂停向埃及政府提供2.6亿美元的援助。

Mr. Obama has said there can be no business as usual following the overthrow of Mr. Morsi. American officials say this suspension is a way of expressing that point. But it is far from a complete break in American assistance.

奥巴马曾表示，在推翻穆尔西之后，一切都变了。美国官员表示，暂停援助是一种表态，但远远未达到美国彻底停止援助的地步。

The United States will continue to support programs that it says directly help the Egyptian people. It will also continue financing programs that support what it calls "vital security objectives." These include help aimed at securing Egypt's borders.

美国表示将继续支持埃及人民直接受益的项目，也将继续资助所谓“重要安全目标”的项目，其中包括协助加强埃及边境安全。

Jonathan Broder is with Congressional Quarterly, a publication that reports on American politics. He says Mr. Obama has been under pressure for not taking stronger steps after the ouster of Egypt's democratically-elected leader.

乔纳森·布罗德(Jonathan Broder)就职于报道美国政治的刊物《国会季刊》。他说，在埃及民选总统下台后，奥巴马总统因为未能采取强硬措施一直备受压力。

"There is the image that President Obama wants to present to the world as someone who stands up for human rights and for democracy. And the images of Egyptian soldiers killing protesters on the streets of Cairo is a very negative one in the United States. And there's pressure on him from human rights organizations and from some in Congress to suspend the aid."

布罗德说，“奥巴马总统希望向全球展示自己捍卫人权和民主的形象。埃及士兵杀害开罗街头示威者的图片在美国是非常负面的。奥巴马面临人权组织和国会一些人要求暂停援助的压力。

American officials say Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed the move in a telephone call on Wednesday with Egypt's Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. During the call, the two men were said to have re-stated the importance of their countries' relations in guaranteeing Middle East security.

美国官员说，美国国防部长哈格尔(Chuck Hagel)周三与埃及国防部长阿卜杜勒·法塔赫·塞西(Abdel Fattah al-Sisi)在电话中讨论了这一举动。据说两人在电话中重申了两国关系在确保中东地区安全中的重要性。

Since July, the Egyptian military has led a campaign against suspected militants and supporters of Mr. Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood. At least 1,000 people have been killed. Most were Islamists.

七月以来，埃及军事领导了一场针对疑似武装分子和穆尔西以及穆斯林兄弟会支持者的运动。至少有一千人被杀害，其中多数是伊斯兰教徒。

In recent days, more violence was reported, with attacks on security forces and clashes between protesters and police. Some Egyptians predict it only lead to increased use of military force.

连日来关于袭击安全部队和警察示威者冲突的暴力报道不断。一些埃及人预测说，这只会增加武力的使用。

以下翻译稍后继续。

Emad Shahin is a public policy professor with The American University in Cairo. He thinks military leaders are preparing for a final battle with their long-time enemies.

"They think that the plan by which they managed to charge, to mobilize the anger of the people against Morsi's rule and administration and so on, has gained a momentum and it is really time to break down the Islamists."

For now, many Egyptians are still supporting the military against its opponents. But there are questions of how long that can last.

Mustafa Labbad is director of the Al Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic Studies.

"After a while you have to solve your social and economic problems. And it wouldn't matter if you are wearing a uniform or casual wear. If you are in power, you have to solve these problems."

Observers say repression against one group may be possible. But attempting to suppress a larger movement will prove difficult.