VOA慢速英语:Obama Defends US Foreign Policy

短语讲解：

1. That would be similar to the situation in Iraq, where Mr. Obama withdrew troops in 2011.

be similar to 与…相似; 类乎
例句：This condition could be similar to human depression.
这一状况类似于人类的低落情绪。

2.  They point to his decision not to follow up on threats to attack Syria when it used chemical weapons.

follow up 把…贯彻到底，对…采取进一步行动
例句：We follow up our victory by attacking the enemy on all fronts. 
我们乘胜向敌人全线进攻。 

3. Mr. Obama called for a new $5 billion plan to help Yemen, Somalia, Libya and Mali fight terrorists.

call for 需要
例句：Different circumstances call for different tactics. 
不同的情势需要不同的策略。 

4. 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….

be able to 能够
例句：Mould you be able to describe a typical day on the job? 
您能描述一下这个职位的日常工作内容吗？ 

5. …you add up the whole picture, it starts to look a little weak.

add up 加起来;  总计
例句：The bills add up to exactly $100. 
这些帐单加起来正好一百元。  
 
6. 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.                

figure out 计算出，解决                                     
例句：We would figure out what to do. 
我们会想出解决问题的办法。