2007年VOA标准英语-US: Pakistan Handled Mosque Takeover Responsibl

By David Gollust
State Department
10 July 2007

The State Department Tuesday expressed understanding for the Pakistani government's decision to use force against militants¹ holding the Red Mosque² in Islamabad.  A spokesman said Pakistani authorities made extensive efforts to resolve the crisis peacefully. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Smoke rises from Lal Masjid during heavy gunbattle between Pakistan troops and militants in Islamabad, 10 July 2007

U.S. officials had been monitoring the siege at the landmark³ mosque in Islamabad with concern. While they have not explicitly⁴ endorsed⁵ the government's decision to use troops against the militants, they say authorities gave the occupiers ample opportunity to lay down their arms and resolve the crisis peacefully.

In a talk with reporters, State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said Pakistani authorities had taken the steps they felt were appropriate to maintain order in the country.

He said it was obvious that officials had tried to negotiate an end to the crisis and that it was unfortunate that the militants who had taken over the Red Mosque did not respond to what he said had been many opportunities to release their hostages and surrender peacefully:

Pakistani paramilitary troops take position during heavy gunbattle with militants at Lal Masjid, or Red Mosque, 10 July 2007

"I think the government of Pakistan has proceeded in a responsible way on this issue," he said.  "They have made a number of efforts to try and resolve this peacefully.  Certainly no one wants to see loss of life and certainly loss of innocent life in this process. But ultimately all governments have a responsibility to preserve order and to try and take steps against terrorists and those that commit criminal actions, too."

Casey said he was not characterizing those involved in the mosque takeover as terrorists, though he said no one believes those who engineered the events at the mosque were innocent students.

He said it is clear the Pakistani government is under threat from extremist groups as evidenced by attempts on the life of President Pervez Musharraf and activities of groups associated with the Taleban.

The Bush administration has strongly supported Mr. Musharraf since he made what was described here as a strategic decision in 2001 to side with the United States in the war against terrorism.

U.S. officials have nonetheless been critical of the Islamabad government on human rights issues including recent decrees, since withdrawn⁶, that would have curbed⁷ media coverage⁸ on the ongoing⁹ controversy¹⁰ over the country's suspended Supreme¹¹ Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

The State Department has said it wants to see free, fair and transparent¹² elections later this year for a new Pakistani parliament, which is to choose a president.

It has also said that, if Mr. Musharraf follows through on his stated intention to seek another term, he should keep a promise to give up his dual¹³ role as army chief of staff.

1 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。

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 explicitly   

ad.明确地，显然地

参考例句：

• The plan does not explicitly endorse the private ownership of land. 该计划没有明确地支持土地私有制。
• SARA amended section 113 to provide explicitly for a right to contribution. 《最高基金修正与再授权法案》修正了第123条，清楚地规定了分配权。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

5 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 curbed   

v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Advertising aimed at children should be curbed. 针对儿童的广告应受到限制。 来自辞典例句
• Inflation needs to be curbed in Russia. 俄罗斯需要抑制通货膨胀。 来自辞典例句

8 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

9 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。

10 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

11 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

12 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。

13 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。