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Washington Week: Focus on Cuba, North Korea

President Barack Obama and U.S. lawmakers have left Washington for the remainder of the year, but the city remains focused on historic and unprecedented developments on the world stage. The coming week is expected to bring continued scrutiny of a diplomatic opening between the United States and Cuba, as well as North Korea’s alleged role in hacking media giant Sony.

While some Cuban exiles protest in Miami, and Cubans on the island hope for an economic boost, President Raul Castro says renewed ties between Washington and Havana do not signal an end to communism in Cuba.

“In the same way that we have never demanded the United States change its political system, we will demand respect for ours,” said he.

Such comments confirm the worst fears of President Obama’s critics, like Republican Senator Marco Rubio.

“Engagement by itself does not guarantee or even lead to political freedoms. The Cuban government controls every aspect of their economy. They intend to follow the model of Vietnam and China where they can grow their economy, but they do not grow political freedoms. In fact, they repress them,” said Rubio, speaking on ABC’s This Week program.

Late last week, Obama departed for a holiday vacation in Hawaii. Before leaving, he defended the decision to rebuild relations with Cuba.

“I do not anticipate overnight changes [in Cuba], but what I know deep in my bones is that if you have done the same thing for 50 years and nothing has changed, you should try something different if you want a different outcome,” said Obama.

Meanwhile, Sony is defending its decision not to release a movie that ridicules North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Appearing on CNN’s Fareed Zakaria GPS program, Sony Pictures chief Michael Lynton remained steadfast.

“We have not caved. We have not given in. We have always had every desire to have the American public see this movie,” said Lynton.

Washington has become increasingly alarmed over America’s vulnerability to cyber-theft and cyber-attacks - concerns now heightened after federal officials concluded that North Korea was behind a massive digital breach at Sony.

President Obama pledged a response.

“Our first order of business is making sure that we do everything to harden sites and prevent those kinds of attacks from taking place. We will respond [to North Korea] in a place and time and manner that we choose.”

North Korea has denied any involvement in the Sony hack. The episode, along with the opening to Cuba, will be subjects of intense congressional scrutiny when lawmakers return to Washington in January.

词汇解析

newly

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adv.新近地；重新地

参考例句

The newly published American novel sold like hot cakes.

那部新出版的美国小说是市场上的畅销货。

I am cooking apple pies with my newly bought frying pan.

我正在用我新买的煎锅做苹果馅饼。

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carbon

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.碳；复写纸；复本；碳精棒

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

Carbon dioxide consists of carbon and oxygen.

二氧化碳是由碳和氧组成的。

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hardware

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.五金器具；[计] 硬件；武器装备

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

They carried a vast inventory of hardware.

他们带着大量的五金器具存货。

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mental

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.思想的；心理的；精神的；脑力的

n.精神病患者

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

It's clear that mental activity does not stop when we're asleep.

很显然,我们熟睡的时候,思想活动仍然不会停下来。

用作名词 (n.)

The hospital cares for some fifty mental patients.

这家医院照料五十名左右精神病患者。

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drought

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

n.干旱

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The long drought famished many people.

久旱使很多人陷入饥饿。

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permanent

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

adj.永久的；持久的

n.<口> 烫发

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The incident left permanent traces on his mind.

那件事在他头脑里留下了永久的印象。

These factors usually have a longer and more permanent impact on share prices.

这项因素通常会对股价产生更加长远和持久的影响。

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reject

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

vt.拒绝；排斥；驳回；丢弃

n.不合格产品；被拒之人

参考例句

用作及物动词 (vt.)

If the application is unfounded, the people's court shall make an order to reject it.

申请不成立的,裁定予以驳回。

用作名词 (n.)

The factory sells some of its better rejects cheaply, but it throws most of the rejects away.

这家公司廉价出售略好一些的次品，但将大多数次品丢弃。

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