VOA慢速英语2015 观察员预计伊斯兰国的暴力会愈演愈烈

 

Observers Expect More Violence from Islamic State 观察员预计伊斯兰国的暴力会愈演愈烈

The battle between the Islamic State group and the coalition¹ fighting to defeat it intensified² this week. The Islamic State released a video of what appeared to be a Jordanian fighter pilot. The video showed him trapped in a cage and being burned alive. The images shocked people around the world.

Jordanian officials identified the young man as Muath al-Kasaesbeh. They say he was captured in December after his F-16 airplane went down over northern Syria. At the time, his plane was taking part in United States-led coalition airstrikes against Islamic State targets.

The Islamic State had recently offered to trade him for an Iraqi. Jordanian officials captured Sajida al-Rishawi after she was involved in a terror attack 10 years ago in Amman. Sixty people died in that attack. Jordan said it would consider releasing the would-be suicide bomber³ if it received proof that the pilot was still alive.

Jordan’s King Abdullah was in Washington on a state visit when the video appeared on the Internet. Jordanian officials say they believe the pilot was killed a month ago. In a statement, King Abdullah called on Jordanians to stand strong. He returned home to find the streets of Amman filled with supporters. Many were calling for action against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIL.

The next day, Jordan executed two jailed militants⁴, including Sajida al-Rishawi. Within hours, the Jordanian military launched airstrikes against Islamic State targets.

Islamic State forces control parts of Syria and Iraq. Its fighters are accused of killing⁵ thousands of civilians⁶ in the two countries. Some observers believe they have executed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi security forces.

Islamic State militants have also killed a number of foreigners. Last month, the group announced the execution of two Japanese men. The Islamic State group says it targeted the two because Japan offered $200 million in non-military aid to countries fighting the Islamic State.

A United States official told VOA, ISIL is using the video of the pilot’s killing and videos of other violence to energize⁷ its followers⁸. The official added that in the minds of the militants, the images show the group’s strength.

Yonah Alexander directs the International Center for Terrorism Studies at the Potomac Institute. He says ISIL’s use of violence and propaganda is an effort to show the group is able to influence world events, even when it cannot win militarily.

In his words, “You are talking about terrorism as a great equalizer, which means you kill one, you don’t need missiles. Their aim is to be able to be equal to a superpower like the United States.”

Mr. Alexander says he expects much more violence. So do other observers, like Professor Mia Bloom. She teaches security studies at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She believes the Islamic State will take what she calls “an eye-for-an eye attitude.” But she thinks its use of extreme violence could turn local populations against the group.

Yet the killing of the pilot has clearly shaken some nations. On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates announced it was ending its involvement in the military effort against ISIL, also known as ISIS.

Late Friday, Islamic State militants claimed that a Jordanian airstrike killed an American aid worker the group has been holding. They said she was buried under the wreckage⁹ of a building in northern Syria. The SITE Intelligence Group reported the claim.

The Obama administration said it could not confirm the report. A U.S. official said the State Department has confirmed that Americans are being held overseas, including by the Islamic State. But she said she could not provide more details about this case.

Words in this Story

coalition - n. forces, groups or nations joined

video - n. a method of recording¹⁰ images and sound without a traditional film camera to be shown on a television, computer or other device

pilot - n. one who guides or flies an airplane or helicopter

trade - v. to buy and sell or exchange products or services

1 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。

2 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

4 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。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 energize   

vt.给予(某人或某物)精力、能量

参考例句：

• It is used to energize the city.它的作用是为城市供给能量。
• This is a great way to energize yourself and give yourself more power!这种方法非常棒，可以激活你的能量，让你有更多的活力！

8 followers   

追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件

参考例句：

• the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
• The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。

9 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

10 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。