2007年VOA标准英语-US Intelligence Chief: Al-Qaida Grows Stronger

By Gary Thomas
Washington
27 February 2007

The top U.S. intelligence officer says Pakistan could make more energetic anti-terrorist efforts along the Afghan border.  But, he adds, Pakistan's military ruler has political concerns in an election year.  As VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, the comments came just after Vice¹-President Dick Cheney made a surprise visit to Islamabad for talks with President Pervez Musharraf.

 
National Intelligence Director John M. (Mike) McConnell testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington
Director of National Intelligence John M. (Mike) McConnell said the Pakistani government strategy of signing peace deals with pro-Taleban tribal² leaders along the Afghan border has backfired.

In testimony³ before the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday, McConnell said President Pervez Musharraf's is trying to balance U.S. security concerns with political ones.

"The president of Pakistan believed that he could be more effective by signing this peace agreement," said Mr. McConnell.  "And in our point of view, capabilities⁴ of al-Qaida for training and so on increased.  And so [came] the vice-president's visit, and others' visits, to make the case that we have to be more aggressive in going after al-Qaida in Pakistan.  The balancing act, of course, is the president's standing⁵ in that country with an election coming up this fall."

U.S. intelligence officials have said the Taleban and al-Qaida fighters have been using the tribal areas, located in rough terrain⁶ along the Afghan border, as safe havens⁷ from which to launch cross-border raids against U.S. and coalition⁸ forces in Afghanistan.  The Afghan government has complained bitterly about the matter.

 
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (R) shakes hands with US Vice President Dick Cheney prior to their meeting in Islamabad, 26 Feb 2007
Musharraf insists his government has been doing everything it can to eradicate⁹ the terrorist strongholds.  As part of a two-pronged strategy, he has used armed force in the tribal areas, but he has also cut (made) peace deals with local tribal leaders, many of whom are actively¹⁰ sympathetic with the anti-Western views of al-Qaida and the Taleban.

On Monday, Vice-President Dick Cheney visited Islamabad to meet President Musharraf. 

According to published reports, he delivered a blunt message that the Pakistani leader has to be more aggressive in rooting out the terrorist sanctuaries¹¹.  One published report says he warned Mr. Musharraf that Congress could reduce or cut U.S. aid to Pakistan if Islamabad is not perceived as doing more to stop the terrorists.

Intelligence chief McConnell said President Musharraf is caught between his desire to cooperate with U.S. anti-terrorist efforts and domestic political concerns.

"We believe they could do more," he added.  "And the issue of being elected for the next term is the issue in my view that the president of Pakistan is wrestling with."

Pakistan is to hold parliamentary and presidential elections later this year.  Islamist parties, who are bitterly opposed to Musharraf's cooperation with U.S.-anti-terrorist efforts, have emerged as a formidable electoral force, at least on the provincial¹² and local levels.

1 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。

2 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

3 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

6 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

7 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

10 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

11 sanctuaries   

n.避难所( sanctuary的名词复数 )；庇护；圣所；庇护所

参考例句：

• The designation of special marine reserves and marine sanctuaries shall be subject to the State Council for approval. 海洋特别保护区、海上自然保护区的确定，须经国务院批准。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• After 1965 he acquiesced when they established sanctuaries on that soil. 1965年以后，他默认了他们在那块土地上建立庇护所。 来自辞典例句

12 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。