VOA常速英语听力2012年10月合辑（文本）：LESS-FOCUS-ON-AFGHAN-WAR-IN-2012-ELECTION.doc

1、高考资源网（） 您身边的高考专家Sean MaroneyOctober 24, 2012The foreign policy debate between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney was their first opportunity to challenge each other directly on the way forward in Afghanistan. Four years ago, the Afghan war played a role in the U.S. presiden

2、tial election. Then-Senator Barack Obama even visited Afghanistan during the campaign.I think one of the biggest mistakes we have made strategically after 9/11 was to fail to finish the job here, focus our attention here, said Obama.But now, as this years election approaches, major polls show U.S. v

3、oters are worried more about the economy than one of their countrys longest wars.The CATO Institutes Malou Innocent says it was only a matter of time before Americans turned their focus back toward home.I think the war fatigue factors in tremendously to the extent to which Americans really just do n

4、ot care to what happens abroad, said Innocent.With thousands of U.S. troops dead or injured and billions of dollars spent in a tough economy, Innocent says its hard for Americans to see tangible gains from the conflict.As recently as March, half of Americans polled said they want the U.S. to withdra

5、w troops from Afghanistan faster.In their foreign policy debate, President Obama and challenger Mitt Romney agreed on withdrawing combat forces.Were now able to transition out of Afghanistan in a responsible way, making sure that Afghans take responsibility for their own security, said President Oba

6、ma.We dont want another Iraq. We dont want another Afghanistan. Thats not the right course for us, said Romney.Political analyst Robert Guttman says the candidates are playing off of public sentiment.They both want to get out of Afghanistan. I think that Romney could have said let us get out now, sa

7、id Guttman.Many analysts say the Afghan government is not ready to take over security now or even in 2014 when foreign combat troops are scheduled to leave. But Innocent says this does not matter; the American public has again turned away from Afghanistan. She says Americans did this for the first t

8、ime during the Iraq war.What was once The Good War became The Forgotten War, then became The Good War and now once again is The Forgotten War, she said.In the meantime, U.S. troops continue to cycle in and out of Afghanistan, while Washington and Kabul hammer out details for continued U.S. aid through at least 2024. 版权所有高考资源网