オバマ演説 「北の核」対処へ行動が肝心だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 15, 2013)
Obama to face global challenges over the next 4 years
オバマ演説　「北の核」対処へ行動が肝心だ（2月14日付・読売社説）

U.S. President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize by declaring it was time to seek "a world without nuclear weapons."
However, the president has been hit by a harsh reality from North Korea that is contradictory to this ideal.
　「核兵器のない世界」の実現を目標に掲げてノーベル平和賞を受賞したオバマ米大統領は、そうした理想とは逆の深刻な現実を、北朝鮮から突きつけられたと言えよう。

Obama laid out Tuesday his priorities for the year ahead in his first State of the Union address for his second term in office.
　大統領は、２期目最初の一般教書演説を行い、今後１年間の施政方針を示した。

The president issued a warning to North Korea, which went ahead with a nuclear test before the speech, making it clear that the United States will take "firm action" against Pyongyang.
その中で、核実験を強行した北朝鮮に強く警告し、「断固とした行動」を取る姿勢を明確にした。

Obama said "provocations" like the test "will only isolate [North Korea] further." The United States will "lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats," he added.
　核実験のような挑発行為をすれば、「北朝鮮は孤立するだけだ」と述べ、米国が「世界の先頭に立って」、厳しく対処していく決意を表明した。

Obama also pledged his country will work to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, while engaging Russia to seek further reductions in nuclear warheads.
イランの核開発を阻止し、ロシアとは核弾頭削減の取り組みを進めるとも述べた。

The United States should eliminate nuclear threats by putting pressure on North Korea through sanctions, while at the same time working closely with other countries concerned through various diplomatic channels. We hope that the president will take concrete action.
　制裁で圧力をかけ、関係国と緊密に連携し、外交を駆使して、核の脅威をなくす必要がある。大統領の行動力に期待したい。

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U.S. determined to take lead

In addition to nuclear issues, Obama emphasized that the United States will take steps against cyberterrorism, champion freedom and democracy, and provide support to Middle Eastern and African countries in their fight against extremists.
　核問題以外でも、サイバーテロ防止、自由と民主主義の擁護、中東やアフリカの過激派対策支援に積極的に関与すると強調した。

The speech conveyed Obama's strong determination that the United States should play the leading role in maintaining global security as the world's sole superpower, by working closely with other countries at a time when the country plans to withdraw more troops from Afghanistan.
　アフガニスタン駐留米軍の撤収を進めつつ、国際協調を軸に、唯一の超大国として、世界の安全維持に主導的な役割を果たそうとする強い意欲がうかがえる。

The question is how he will achieve results.
　どう結果を出すかが問題だ。

Tuesday's speech did not discuss what a strategy placing importance on Asia actually means or how the United States should regard China. These issues, however, are also among key issues in the diplomatic and security fields for Obama's second term.
　演説で語られなかったアジア重視の中身や、中国をどう位置づけるのかも、２期目の外交・安全保障政策の焦点である。

The speech also focused on fiscal reconstruction and reviving the U.S. economy as priority challenges for domestic affairs.
　一方、内政で優先課題に挙げたのが財政再建と経済再生だ。

Early last month, the United States avoided the fiscal cliff--the expiration of large-scale tax cuts and the automatic imposition of mandatory spending cuts--after the president and Congress reached a deal.
　大型減税失効と歳出の強制削減が重なる「財政の崖」からの転落は、今年初め、大統領と議会の妥協の末、ひとまず回避された。

However, the U.S. fiscal administration remains on a tightrope as the two sides have been divided over implementation of drastic fiscal reconstruction measures. There are just weeks left until March 1, the date to which the automatic spending cuts were delayed under the deal.
　しかし、抜本的な財政再建策を巡って対立し、財政運営の綱渡りは続く。先延ばしした歳出削減の発動が３月１日に迫る。

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Looming clash with Republicans

In the speech, Obama said it is important to "reignite the true engine of America's economic growth--a rising, thriving middle class." He showed his focus on middle-income earners and called for Republicans to make major concessions to achieve fiscal reconstruction mainly through overhauling the medical insurance and social security systems, which face ballooning costs.
　大統領は「成長のエンジンとなる中間所得層の再活性化」を訴えた。中間層を重視し、膨張する医療保険や社会保障の改革などを柱とした財政再建の実現へ、共和党に大幅譲歩を求めたものだ。

As Obama took a clearly confrontational approach to Republicans, the two sides are expected to go through a still fiercer tug-of-war.
　一段と対決色を鮮明にしたことで、激しい攻防が予想される。

However, mandatory spending cuts would have a negative impact on the U.S. economy, which is just getting onto a recovery path. Major cuts in defense expenditures also might jeopardize U.S. security systems in Asia and other parts of the world.
　ただ、強制的に歳出削減されると、回復基調にある米国経済に悪影響を及ぼす。国防費の大幅削減はアジアなどでの米国の安全保障体制にも支障を与えかねない。

Obama also expressed his determination to complete negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework as part of efforts to expand employment in his country. Japan should accelerate efforts to take part in it.
　大統領は雇用拡大を図るため、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の妥結を目指す決意も表明した。日本は参加を急ぐべきだ。

With piles of issues at home and abroad, Obama's leadership will be called into question. He will surely face a series of challenges.
　内外に課題が山積する中で、問われるのはオバマ氏の指導力だ。挑戦と試練が続くに違いない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2013)
（2013年2月14日01時05分  読売新聞）