2006年VOA标准英语-Rice: US Does Not Want to be 'World's Jail

By Michael Drudge¹
London
31 March 2006
 

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, and Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack² Straw speak to the media  
  
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the United States does not desire to be what she calls "the world's jailer," but she says the war on terrorism has presented new and difficult challenges in dealing³ with potential threats. Rice spoke⁴ during a tour of northwest England.

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The secretary of state discussed terrorism and the U.S. goal of promoting democracy in the Middle East during a foreign policy address in the city of Blackburn, the home constituency of her host, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

She recognized the controversy⁵ in Britain and Europe over the indefinite detention⁶ of terrorist suspects by the U.S. military, and she says it is a difficult situation.

"We have no desire to be the world's jailer," she said. "We want the terrorists that we capture to stand trial for their crimes."

However, Rice indicated there is strong public opinion within the United States to support whatever measures are necessary to prevent a repetition of the September 11, 2001, attacks.

"Our citizens will judge us harshly, if we release a captured terrorist before we are absolutely certain that he does not possess information that could prevent a future attack, or even worse, if we meet that terrorist again on the battlefield," she said.

The British government has long been uncomfortable with the U.S. policy of holding terrorist suspects indefinitely at the American naval⁷ base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has called the situation an "anomaly," and Britain got nine of its citizens released from Guantanamo. Britain is also pressing for the release of an Iraqi who holds British residency.

Straw invited Rice to northwest England to reciprocate⁸ for a tour he took last year in her home state of Alabama.

British anti-war protesters demonstrated at various venues⁹ the two officials visited Friday. Rice cited the protests to pitch her policy of promoting democracy around the world.

"People have the right to protest," she said. "That's what democracy is all about, and I'm just delighted that, in more and more of the world, those rights to speak your mind are being extended to other people, for whom that right has not been there."

Leaders of a Blackburn mosque¹⁰ withdrew an invitation for Rice to visit there, out of concern that Iraq war protesters would make a scene. Her plans for a meeting with local Muslim leaders were not affected¹¹.

1 drudge   

n.劳碌的人；v.做苦工，操劳

参考例句：

• I feel like a real drudge--I've done nothing but clean all day!我觉得自己像个做苦工的--整天都在做清洁工作！
• I'm a poor,miserable,forlorn drudge;I shall only drag you down with me.我是一个贫穷，倒运，走投无路的苦力，只会拖累你。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 spoke   

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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 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。

6 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

7 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

8 reciprocate   

v.往复运动；互换；回报，酬答

参考例句：

• Although she did not reciprocate his feelings, she did not discourage him.尽管她没有回应他的感情，她也没有使他丧失信心。
• Some day I will reciprocate your kindness to me.总有一天我会报答你对我的恩德。

9 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

10 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。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。