经济学人335:叙利亚内战 艰难时刻

　　Leaders
社论
Syria's civil war
叙利亚内战
Desperate times
艰难时刻
A conference on Syria is not enough. The West should also arm the rebels
叙利亚问题远非一项会议可以解决，西方国家还应该为反对派提供武装援助
NOBODY thinks that the Geneva negotiations¹, which began on January 22nd after months of effort, will bring peace right away.
经过数月努力后，日内瓦会议于1月22日召开，没人相信此次调解会立即带来和平。
2_副本.jpgBut with civil war raging inside Syria, just getting people around the same table feels like progress; and, it is argued, the talks might lay the ground for negotiations that may one day lead to a ceasefire, or even to power changing hands.
然而，由于叙利亚国内战争甚嚣尘上，单是将双方集结到一张桌子上已属不易。而且，据称，此次对话可能为之后的谈判奠定基础，以实现最终的停火，甚至是权利交接。
Meanwhile, they can broker² local truces³ and get relief to Syrians dying for lack of food and medicine.
同时，这次的对话还可以调解地方冲突以求和平，为缺少食物和药物的叙利亚人送去援助。
Anything that would alleviate⁴ Syria's plight⁵ is welcome.
任何有助于缓解叙利亚困境的行动都是受欢迎的。
But if America and Europe are serious about helping⁶ Syria, they should arm the rebels fighting the regime.
但是，如果美国和欧洲国家真相帮助叙利亚，他们应该武装反对派，打击政权。
Out-thinking, out-manoeuvring, inhuman⁷
先发制人，惨无人道
That is a message people do not want to hear.
世人并不想听到这样的消息。
Then again, neither do they want to face up to the brutality⁸ inside Bashar Assad's prisons.
同样，他们也不忍直视巴萨尔阿萨德监狱里的残暴。
This is not casual thuggery but, as a security official who defected from the regime with thousands of horrific photographs has revealed, an audited⁹ policy of official terror administered on an industrial scale.
这并非一般的暗杀，而是一名安保人员，背叛组织后惨遭杀害，几千张惊恐的图片披露了这一行径，一项官方恐怖的审计政策以工业规模展开。
The violence Mr Assad has used has driven reason and tolerance¹⁰ out of what was one of the Middle East's most integrated countries.
总统阿萨德的暴行使原本团结的中东国家失去了理性和包容。
Well over 100,000 people have died and millions have fled their homes.
10万多人丧生，数百万人流离失所。
The hatred¹¹ is spreading to Lebanon and Iraq.
仇恨正向蔓延黎巴嫩和伊拉克。
The Geneva gathering¹² cannot drain such an ocean of suffering and wrongdoing. It is built on the premise¹³ that Mr Assad will relinquish¹⁴ power through a transitional government.
日内瓦会议无法化解这无边的苦海和冤屈，除非总统阿萨德能够放弃权力，组件临时政府。
But why should he?
但是，他这么做理由何在呢？
He believes he is winning. He is holding his own against rebel attacks, or even gaining territory.
他认为他正在获得胜利。他正在尽全力对抗反对派，甚至扩张领土。
The programme to eliminate his chemical arsenal¹⁵, imposed after he murdered about 1,000 civilians¹⁶ in a nerve-agent attack, has turned him into a partner of the West.
在他屠杀了1000多手无寸铁的平民后，联合国决议决定销毁他的化学武器，但这却使他成为西方国家的一员。
He set out to radicalise the rebels, releasing jihadists from his jails early in the conflict.
他决意激怒反对派，在冲突开始早些时候释放了圣战者。
This programme has been so successful that Western voters now think the rebels are as vile¹⁷ as Mr Assad.
这一激将法十分奏效，西方国家目前认为反对派同阿萨德一样邪恶。
Geneva could even get in the way of peace.
可以说，日内瓦会议妨碍了和平进程。
The humanitarian¹⁸ aid that may come from the talks is desperately¹⁹ needed by Syrians, but it comes at a cost, because UN aid agencies will, again, depend on Mr Assad for co-operation.
叙利亚人亟需和谈中可能达成的人道援助，但是这些援助却不是免费的午餐，因为联合国援助机构会再次依靠阿萨德的合作。
Peace is almost impossible unless Iran, Mr Assad's biggest backer, also leans on the regime.
除非伊朗—阿萨德最大的支持者，也支持这一政权，否则，叙利亚和平只能是泡影。
Yet Iran was barred from the conference only hours after having been invited, because it will not sign up to the condition that he surrenders power.
然而，伊朗在接受邀请数小时后就被拒绝参加会议，因为该国不同意阿萨德交出政权。
To cynics, Geneva is a device that lets everyone pretend to have a Syria policy even when they don't.
对批评人士来说，日内瓦会议只是权宜之计，让所有人误以为叙利亚问题有方法解决，实则是无计可施。
That may be deft²⁰ diplomacy²¹, but it is a licence for inaction, and the price is counted in Syrian suffering.
于外交来说，这一招妙不可言，但却使不作为获得了许可，而且代价在叙利亚伤亡中显而易见。
As talks drag on, Russia and Iran will continue to boost Mr Assad's strength.
由于谈判一再拖延，俄罗斯和伊朗将继续为阿萨德提供援助。
It would be wrong to let the balance tilt²² so far that he can dictate²³ terms.
力量失衡如此严重，让阿萨德可以为所欲为，实属下策。
The best way to break the deadlock²⁴ would be for the West to arm and train selected rebels, as it should have done almost from the start of the violence.
打破僵局的最好办法是西方武装和训练精挑细选的反对派，战争开始之初就应该这样做。
Many fear that the beneficiary of money, equipment and arms would be al-Qaeda, which matches only Mr Assad in its contempt for human life and Western democracy.
许多人担心钱财、设备和武器最后会落到基地组织手里，他们残害生命和打击西方政策的行径与阿萨德不相上下。
But over the past few weeks that risk has diminished, as nationalist Sunni groups, including devout²⁵ Islamists, have turned against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, an al-Qaeda affiliate²⁶.
但是，在过去的几个星期里，风险已经降低，因为民族主义者逊尼派，包括虔诚的伊斯兰教徒，已与伊斯兰教国家伊拉克和ISIS反目，后者是基地组织的一个分支。
Not only are arms and money less likely to end up in the wrong hands, but the nicer rebels—even if they are not the most reliable or savoury allies—are the front line against ISIS, whose sectarian poison threatens the entire region.
不仅武器和钱不太可能落入贼手，稍显仁慈的反对派—即使他们不是最可靠、最适合的同盟者，却在前线对抗ISIS，其派别纷争威胁着整个地区。
Even with more outside help, the rebels are not about to defeat Mr Assad.
即使外援增加，反对派也无意于扳倒阿萨德。
But turning the tide of the fighting might shift the negotiations, too.
然而，转移斗争的矛头可能会影响谈判。
If the regime is under pressure on the battlefield, it may be more willing to negotiate a proper ceasefire, or even, if people are tired of war, Mr Assad's departure.
如果政权在战场上饱受压力，阿萨德可能更乐意协议停火，或者，人们厌倦了战争，阿萨德会选择放弃。
Moreover Iran can ill afford to finance a stalemate.
而且，如果伊朗意图不轨，大可继续为其提供援助，维持僵局。
When it has had enough of pouring money into Mr Assad's seemingly endless conflict, it may be willing to argue for peace.
待到有足够的金钱支持阿萨德似乎无休止的战争时，伊朗可能会求和。
Some say that if outsiders continue to help the rebels, they will condemn²⁷ Syria to even more suffering.
有人认为，如果外界继续帮助反对派，可能会使叙利亚的苦难更加深重。
That is possible.
这一点并非不可能。
But the brutality Mr Assad has practised against his own people strengthens the case for trying to tip the balance of power against him, and the best way to persuade his backers to withdraw their aid is if the West has money on the table, too.
然而，阿萨德对其人们施行的暴政使外界决意使力量的天平向对方倾斜，而且劝退其支持者的最好办法便是，西方国家也提供援助。
One thing is certain: if either Mr Assad or al-Qaeda prevails, Syria will continue to suffer for a very long time.
一件事可以肯定：无论阿萨德或基地组织任一方胜出，未来很长一段时间里，叙利亚都将继续处于水深火热中煎熬。
1.lack of 缺乏
Another problem was the lack of competition.
另一个问题是缺乏竞争。
Her lack of experience is a severe disability.
她缺少经验是一个严重的障碍。
2.face up 面对，担当
But one country has yet to face up to its changed circumstances.
但是，欧元区仍有一个国家尚未勇敢面对物是人非的外部环境。
Managers must face up to its existence and influence.
管理者必须正视它的存在和影响。
3.spread to 蔓延到；波及
The crisis threatened to spread to china.
这场危机甚至波及了中国。
The mayhem spread to other parts of the city.
混乱也蔓延到了曼谷市的其他地区。
4.set out to 打算，着手
The screenwriter set out to explore the ways in which different people face demanding times.
剧本作者一开始是要探讨不同的人面对艰难时期的方式。
He has set out to make salesforce a more generous and efficient donor²⁸ than any other firm.
现在贝尼奥夫已经开始让salesforce公司成为一个比别的公司更慷慨、更有效率的慈善家。

1 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

2 broker   

n.中间人，经纪人；v.作为中间人来安排

参考例句：

• He baited the broker by promises of higher commissions.他答应给更高的佣金来引诱那位经纪人。
• I'm a real estate broker.我是不动产经纪人。

3 truces   

休战( truce的名词复数 )； 停战（协定）； 停止争辩（的协议）； 中止

参考例句：

• Previous military operations have ended in truces. 以往的军事行动都以停火而告终。
• Many blamed it on the army, which had made several truces with the militants in Malakand. 许多人把责任推给军队，这迫使巴军与马拉坎地区武装分子进行了好几次停战。

4 alleviate   

v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等)

参考例句：

• The doctor gave her an injection to alleviate the pain.医生给她注射以减轻疼痛。
• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。

5 plight   

n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定

参考例句：

• The leader was much concerned over the plight of the refugees.那位领袖对难民的困境很担忧。
• She was in a most helpless plight.她真不知如何是好。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 inhuman   

adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的

参考例句：

• We must unite the workers in fighting against inhuman conditions.我们必须使工人们团结起来反对那些难以忍受的工作条件。
• It was inhuman to refuse him permission to see his wife.不容许他去看自己的妻子是太不近人情了。

8 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

9 audited   

v.审计，查账( audit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The accounts have to be audited by a firm of external auditors. 这些账目必须由一家外聘审计员的公司来稽查。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• E. g. few if any charities collection publishes audited accounts. 例如很少义款收集有公布经过查核的帐目。 来自互联网

10 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。

11 hatred   

n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨

参考例句：

• He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
• The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。

12 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

13 premise   

n.前提；v.提论，预述

参考例句：

• Let me premise my argument with a bit of history.让我引述一些史实作为我立论的前提。
• We can deduce a conclusion from the premise.我们可以从这个前提推出结论。

14 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

15 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

16 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

17 vile   

adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的

参考例句：

• Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢？
• Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。

18 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

19 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

20 deft   

adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手）

参考例句：

• The pianist has deft fingers.钢琴家有灵巧的双手。
• This bird,sharp of eye and deft of beak,can accurately peck the flying insects in the air.这只鸟眼疾嘴快，能准确地把空中的飞虫啄住。

21 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

22 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

23 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

24 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

25 devout   

adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness)

参考例句：

• His devout Catholicism appeals to ordinary people.他对天主教的虔诚信仰感染了普通民众。
• The devout man prayed daily.那位虔诚的男士每天都祈祷。

26 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

27 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

28 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。