万花筒 2012-07-21&07-23 叙利亚正副国防部长被炸死

 It was the most brazen¹ and sophisticated attack launched against the Syria regime. Today a suicide bomber² managed to get inside the national security building in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The blast killed the Syrian Defense³ Minister and the Intelligence Chief who's also the brother-in-law of President Bashar al Assad. The attack marked the first time any Syrian leadership figure has been killed.

This is a situation that is rapidly spinning out of control.

This morning at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta addressed the attack and the ongoing⁴ violence.

This obviously that, that what is happening in Syria represents a real escalation⁵ in fighting.

The violence in Syria has been raging for months. Activists⁶ say more than 17,000 people have died since March, 2011. Top Obama Administration's officials  including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continued to say that president Assad's days are numbered.  There have been several high profile defections recently among the Assad's military and diplomatic core. And more are expected.

This is extremely important that the international community working with the other countries that have concerns in that area have to bring  maximum pressure on Assad.

Today the Obama Administration announces it’s slapping financial sanctions on several top officials in Assad's government. This freezes any  assets they have in the US and prohibits Americans from doing business with them.

Karen Travers, ABC news, Washington.

1 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

2 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》