VOA常速英语2007-Bush Urges Turkey to Refrain From Cross-Border O

By Paula Wolfson
White House
17 October 2007

President Bush is urging Turkey to refrain from launching a cross-border offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush spoke¹ at the White House as the Turkish parliament authorized² such action.

President Bush says some Turkish troops have already been deployed³ in Iraq. But he makes clear a cross-border incursion aimed at Kurdish rebels would enflame an already volatile⁴ situation.

"We are making it very clear to Turkey that we do not think it is in their interest to send troops into Iraq, " said President Bush. "Actually, they have troops already stationed in Iraq. They have for some while. We do not think it is in their interest to send more troops in."

Speaking at a White House news conference, the president tried to strike a hopeful note. He said efforts are being made to calm the situation, and to encourage Turkey to refrain from action that could lead to a broader Iraqi war.

"What I am telling you is there is a lot of dialogue going on, and that is positive," said Mr. Bush.

Mr. Bush stressed that Iraqi leaders are engaged in diplomacy⁵ with Ankara on the Kurdish situation. He made specific mention of Iraqi Vice⁶ President Tariq al-Hashimi's talks in Turkey leading up to the vote in parliament. President Bush said Hashimi has assured Turkish leaders that Iraq shares their concerns about attacks launched by Kurdish rebels across their common border.

"I appreciate very much the fact the Iraqi government understands that this is a sensitive issue with the Turks," he said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also made personal appeals to Turkish officials prior to the parliament vote. Turkey - which has seen a rise in terrorist attacks by PKK rebels - has said the authorization⁷ is needed, but officials have stressed that the parliamentary action does not mean an attack is imminent⁸.

Turkey has complained about a lack of U.S. support for its fight against the Kurdish rebels.

Further complicating⁹ matters is a non-binding resolution pending¹⁰ in the U.S. House of Representatives that has touched a raw nerve in Turkey. It calls the World War I-era massacre¹¹ of Armenians under Ottoman rule a genocide.

The White House has been urging House leaders to drop the measure. President Bush repeated his position during his session with reporters.

"Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a democratic ally in the Muslim world, especially one that is providing vital support for our military every day," said President Bush.

There are signs the administration's efforts to stop action on the House resolution are having an impact. Several original sponsors of the measure have withdrawn¹² their support.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 authorized   

a.委任的，许可的

参考例句：

• An administrative order is valid if authorized by a statute.如果一个行政命令得到一个法规的认可那么这个命令就是有效的。

3 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

4 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

5 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。

6 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

7 authorization   

n.授权，委任状

参考例句：

• Anglers are required to obtain prior authorization from the park keeper.垂钓者必须事先得到公园管理者的许可。
• You cannot take a day off without authorization.未经批准你不得休假。

8 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

9 complicating   

使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。
• In America these actions become executive puberty rites, complicating relationships that are already complicated enough. 在美国，这些行动成了行政青春期的惯例，使本来已经够复杂的关系变得更复杂了。

10 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

11 massacre   

n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀

参考例句：

• There was a terrible massacre of villagers here during the war.在战争中，这里的村民惨遭屠杀。
• If we forget the massacre,the massacre will happen again!忘记了大屠杀，大屠杀就有可能再次发生！

12 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。