VOA慢速英语2015 美-土达成协议共同解决"圣战公路"问题

AS IT IS 2015-05-16 US-Turkey Agreement Could Slow 'Jihadist Highway' 美-土达成协议共同解决"圣战公路"问题

The United States and Turkey are said to be close to signing an agreement to improve cooperation in fighting groups like the self-declared Islamic State.

John Bass¹ is the U.S. ambassador to Turkey. He says the proposed deal is aimed at improving cooperation and information-sharing between the two countries’ security forces in the fight against the Islamic State.

Media reports and some of Turkey’s allies have accused the Turkish government of letting the country become what they call a “jihadhist highway” to Syria. They accuse the government of doing little to stop jihadists, Muslims who support the idea of a war against non-believers.

Turkish officials have rejected such criticism. They instead blame Turkey’s allies for failing to stop jihadists from leaving their home countries.

Semih Idiz writes about diplomacy² for the Taraf newspaper and Al Monitor website. He says that over the past few months, the government appears to have changed policy. He has noted³ an increase in the number of arrests and expulsions of possible jihadists.

“If you ask the Turkish officials, they will say, you know: “It’s, it’s been the same all along.’ But I do think there is a change. I think initially⁴ they started off by perhaps turning a slight blind eye to groups like Al Nusra, assuming that these would get rid of (Syrian President) Assad.”

Part of the planned security deal is aimed at improving the sharing of intelligence information between Turkey and the United States. Turkish officials have repeatedly noted the failure of the country’s allies to provide current information about would-be jihadists going to Turkey.

Soli Ozel teaches international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul. He says Turkish officials have widely publicized the growing number of detentions⁵ and deportations of jihadists. But Mr. Ozel says questions remain about the government’s desire to take steps against the Islamic State, often called IS.

“Turkey is doing a lot more than it did before, but I mean there was just this piece of news in The New York Times about fertilizers that can be used as explosives being freely-sent to IS-held territories. So obviously this is not a very stringent⁶ embargoing⁸ against IS at all. I don’t think Turkey has IS as its priority. I still think there is a difference between the Turkish and the American approach and I’m not sure that it can be bridged soon.”

Turkey and the United States disagree about the cause of unrest in the area. Turkey says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to blame. The United States says the Islamic State is responsible. This disagreement has slowed a U.S.-supported effort to train Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic State.

In February, Turkey agreed to help train and supply 3,000 fighters on its territory. But the program was repeatedly delayed. Reports say the delay resulted from Turkish demands to use the fighters against both Syrian government troops and the Islamic State, also called “Daesh.”

At a meeting with reporters this month, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken was asked about the apparent dispute. He noted that Turkey has been helpful in fighting militants⁹.

“Turkey is a critical partner in that effort, and what we are seeing is very close collaboration¹⁰ across the board in trying to deal with the threat posed by Daesh.”

Observers say the proposed security deal could improve relations between the countries. Semih Idiz says the two sides can disagree about some issues. But he says it is important to note that Turkey can still support U.S. policy in the area.

"This kind of talk is not very fruitful as far as the American side is concerned. Because there is a certain element of cooperation that is going on already. And this reinforcing of ties will create an atmosphere where, you know, the public awareness¹¹ will be that the two allies are acting¹² together again. This does not mean that the two countries (will) engage in military operations in Syria, for example, or establish the buffer¹³ zone Turkey wants there. But I think that it will probably mean things like, sort of, base facilities enabling drone flights…”

Critics are likely to argue that the security agreement will not end the deep differences over policy towards Syria and the battle against the Islamic State. But if the deal can lead to greater cooperation in some areas, observers say, that will help to reduce suspicions and tensions between the two countries.

Words in This Story

blind eye – idiom to look the other way; to refuse to see something

deport(ation) – v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country; expulsion

stringent – adj. severe

embargo⁷ – n. a government order that limits trade in some way

approach – n. a way of dealing¹⁴ with something; a way of doing or thinking about something

bridge – v. to make a bridge over or across (something); n. a structure built over a valley, waterway or road so people and vehicles can travel from one side to the other

collaboration – n. cooperation; the result of having worked with another person or group in order to achieve or do something

across the board – idiom/adj. affecting everyone or everything in a group

element – n. a part of something (such as a situation or activity)

reinforcing – v. to give support to (an idea, behavior or feeling)

atmosphere – n. the particular way a place or situation makes you feel

buffer zone – n. an area that keeps two things separated; neutral area

1 bass   

n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴

参考例句：

• He answered my question in a surprisingly deep bass.他用一种低得出奇的声音回答我的问题。
• The bass was to give a concert in the park.那位男低音歌唱家将在公园中举行音乐会。

2 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。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

5 detentions   

拘留( detention的名词复数 )； 扣押； 监禁； 放学后留校

参考例句：

• Teachers may assign detention tasks as they wish and some detentions have been actually dangerous. 老师可能随心所欲指派关禁闭的形式，有些禁闭事实上很危险。
• Intimidation, beatings and administrative detentions are often enough to prevent them from trying again. 恐吓，拷打和行政拘留足以阻止请愿者二次进京的脚步。

6 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

7 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

8 embargoing   

禁止贸易，禁运( embargo的现在分词 )

参考例句：

9 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

10 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

11 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

12 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

13 buffer   

n.起缓冲作用的人(或物)，缓冲器；vt.缓冲

参考例句：

• A little money can be a useful buffer in time of need.在急需时，很少一点钱就能解燃眉之急。
• Romantic love will buffer you against life's hardships.浪漫的爱会减轻生活的艰辛。

14 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。