2007年VOA标准英语-Visiting US Official Voices Support for Pakista

By Benjamin Sand
Islamabad
16 June 2007

A senior U.S. official in Pakistan provided the strongest indication yet that Washington will stand by embattled Pakistan leader Pervez Musharraf. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, in Pakistan for a two-day visit, emphasized Washington's commitment to a long-term Pakistan - U.S. alliance. VOA correspondent Benjamin Sand reports from Islamabad.

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Pakistani opposition parties activists surround the vehicle of suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at a street in Chakwal

The visit comes as President Musharraf faces mounting political opposition at home over his controversial decision to fire the country's top judge last March.

The political crisis continues to heat up ahead of national elections expected later this year.
 
Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte met Mr. Musharraf Saturday, the same day the ousted³ judge led a massive protest rally in the central city of Faisalabad.

There was widespread speculation⁴ that Mr. Negroponte would be delivering a tough message from Washington demanding a firm commitment to democratic reforms inside Pakistan.

However, speaking to reporters following the meeting, Mr. Negroponte reiterated⁵ Washington's continued support for President Musharraf's government.

"As far as the message that I brought, it is one of strong friendship and trust," he said.  "We believe that we have an excellent partnership⁶ together in facing the various challenges that confront us."

He said the central challenge remains⁷ the war against terrorism, where Pakistan, and General Musharraf, are key U.S. allies.

Under Musharraf, Pakistan's military has deployed⁸ some 80,000 troops to help secure the rugged⁹ tribal¹⁰ areas along the Afghan border, where Taleban and al-Qaida militants¹¹ are believed to operate.

Pervez Musharraf (May 2007)

President Musharraf has come under fire, both at home and abroad, for his refusal to give up his dual¹² role as both president and head of Pakistan's powerful military.

Mr. Negroponte did repeat calls Saturday for "free, fair and transparent¹³" elections later this year. But on the central issue of issue of President's Musharraf's military uniform, Mr. Negroponte declined comment.

"This is a matter that is up to him ,and I am sure that he's going to make that decision based on all the considerations that he considers relevant to the situation as he sees it," he added.

Under the Pakistan constitution, President Musharraf would be obliged to quit the army before seeking reelection.  Opposition leaders are demanding that he give up his military post sooner rather than later.

The president is also pushing the country's sitting national assembly to reelect him to another five-year term before it is dissolved in November ahead national elections.

Musharraf's political opposition is expected to dominate those elections and gain a significant majority in the national assembly.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 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》

3 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

4 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

5 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

6 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 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。

9 rugged   

adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的

参考例句：

• Football players must be rugged.足球运动员必须健壮。
• The Rocky Mountains have rugged mountains and roads.落基山脉有崇山峻岭和崎岖不平的道路。

10 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。

11 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。

12 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

13 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。