2006年VOA标准英语-US Envoy Demands Explanation of Mexican Bo

By Greg Flakus
Houston
26 January 2006

The U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza, has sent a formal diplomatic note to the government of Mexico regarding an incident on the border with Texas on January 23 in which men who appeared to be Mexican soldiers crossed over the border.  Texas lawmen on the scene say the soldiers were there to guard an illicit¹ drug shipment.

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Police photo of border incursion  
  

In a diplomatic note issued late Wednesday by the U.S. embassy in Mexico City, Ambassador Garza, requests a full investigation² of the incident. The Ambassador also read his statement in Spanish for use by the news media in Mexico.

He said that men wearing military uniforms, carrying military weapons and driving in military-style vehicles apparently³ intervened to prevent U.S. authorities from seizing a drug shipment.

Garza said that he sent the diplomatic note because "This type of incident is indicative of the danger faced by our law enforcement officers daily along the border."

Tony Garza   
  
He also laments⁴ the increase in drug-related violence in Mexican cities on the border and notes that there have been numerous cross-border attacks on U.S. Border Patrol agents.

The U.S. Ambassador also protested what he refered to as rhetoric⁵ in Mexico that characterizes U.S. efforts to control its border as racist⁶. He said that Mexican efforts to oppose measures under consideration in the U.S. Congress further polarize the debate on immigration and border security. He added that the Mexican actions, "only serve to polarize the debate on immigration and undermine the efforts of those who seek viable⁷ solutions to illegal immigration and border security."

The recent approval by the U.S. House of Representatives of a bill that would fund the construction of a reinforced fence along some sections of the border drew strong criticism in Mexico. Mexican President Vicente Fox called the idea "shameful⁸" and Mexican diplomats⁹ sought help in condemning¹⁰ the proposal from other Latin American nations and the European Union. Supporters of the enhanced border security proposals cite the need to stop terrorists at the border as well as the ongoing¹¹ problems of illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The measure would need approval by the U.S. Senate and President Bush before taking effect.

On Thursday, the Mexican government dropped a plan to distribute maps to its citizens seeking to cross illegally over the border into the United States. The maps showed the safest routes through the Sonoran desert in southern Arizona, where hundreds of illegal crossers have died in recent years from dehydration¹² and exposure. The maps were produced by a humanitarian¹³ group in the United States that has also placed water stations in the desert to aid immigrants in distress¹⁴. Groups favoring strict enforcement of U.S. immigration laws have criticized such efforts for what they describe as encouraging illegal entry.

1 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 laments   

n.悲恸，哀歌，挽歌( lament的名词复数 )v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In the poem he laments the destruction of the countryside. 在那首诗里他对乡村遭到的破坏流露出悲哀。
• In this book he laments the slight interest shown in his writings. 在该书中他慨叹人们对他的著作兴趣微弱。 来自辞典例句

5 rhetoric   

n.修辞学，浮夸之言语

参考例句：

• Do you know something about rhetoric?你懂点修辞学吗？
• Behind all the rhetoric,his relations with the army are dangerously poised.在冠冕堂皇的言辞背后，他和军队的关系岌岌可危。

6 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

7 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

8 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

9 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 condemning   

v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的现在分词 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地

参考例句：

• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。
• I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done. 我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 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。

12 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

13 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

14 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。