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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
The top drug control official in the U.S., Gil Kerlikowske, is speaking out against increasing drug violence in Mexico and in support of Mexican President Felipe Calderon. In the most recent violence, 21 people died Thursday in a gun battle between rival gangs in Sonora, Mexico, just 20 kilometers from the U.S. border. In an exclusive interview, VOA's Carolyn Presutti spoke1 with Kerlikowske.
Every scene has familiar police markings - blood of the fallen, connections to drugs. Fifteen dead in a gun battle in Taxco.
Fifty-five more at an abandoned silver mine near that same tourist town.
And every time Mexican President Felipe Calderon calls for it to stop.
"We are dealing2 with security for the whole country," said President Calderon. "Criminals don't discriminate3. This is a moment of unity4 and decision."
Mr. Calderon can count on the Obama administration to back him. Gil Kerlikowske is the top U.S. drug control official, commonly known as America's drug czar. He has a long history in law enforcement.
"I'm very pleased that, one, President Calderone is very courageous5, in his administration, in taking this issue on," said Gil Kerlikowske. "And as he says, this is a question of who is going to run that country. Is it going to be criminals, criminal enterprises? Or is it going to be the elected officials and the appointed officials of that democracy?"
Crime experts say the cartels are running Mexico. Midway through Mr. Calderon's six year term, drug-related violence has claimed more than 23,000 lives. And lately, the targets have been political.
A deputy state prosecutor6 was gunned down in Ciudad Juarez, along the border with Texas.
A gubernatorial candidate was ambushed7 in Tamaulipas.
"I think history throughout the world, when it comes to law enforcement taking on organized crime, always shows an increase or a spike8 in violence as you confront them," said Kerlikowske. "That's horrible for the people in Mexico."
Kerlikowske spent years as a police chief in American cities, but he favors treatment programs over jail time for drug uses. He also praises Colombian President Avaro Uribe for lowering his country's coca production, resulting in less cocaine9 passing through Mexico into the United States.
"For many years, we would point our finger, particularly at Mexico, and say 'Please stop sending your drugs across the border to us.' And Mexico would say, 'Well look, if you weren't consuming so many drugs, we wouldn't have the problems we are having.' I think we're pretty far past that," he said.
With drug use high, Kerlikowske says U.S. scientists conduct 85 percent of the world's research on drug treatment. He says more countries should take advantage of free information to start their own treatment programs.
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spoke
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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 | |
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2
dealing
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n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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3
discriminate
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v.区别,辨别,区分;有区别地对待 | |
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4
unity
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n.团结,联合,统一;和睦,协调 | |
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5
courageous
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adj.勇敢的,有胆量的 | |
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6
prosecutor
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n.起诉人;检察官,公诉人 | |
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7
ambushed
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v.埋伏( ambush的过去式和过去分词 );埋伏着 | |
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8
spike
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n.长钉,钉鞋;v.以大钉钉牢,使...失效 | |
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9
cocaine
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n.可卡因,古柯碱(用作局部麻醉剂) | |
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