VOA标准英语2010年-Lebanon Faces Deepening Political Cris

Syria and its political allies in Lebanon continue to exert pressure on the government of Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in what analysts¹ say is another attempt to put an end to the international tribunal investigating the assassination² of former Prime Minister Rafiq al Hariri.

Lebanon appears to be facing more political tension and a possible governmental crisis as Syria and its allies flex³ their muscles in a show of force against the pro-Western parliamentary bloc⁴ behind Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, who is aligned⁵ with both Syria and the militant⁶ Hezbollah, is threatening to boycott⁷ the government unless it agrees to discuss a topic aimed at discrediting⁸ the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq al Hariri.

'False witness'

Berri's spokesman, Ali Hamdan, insists the move is intended to clarify the situation and to debate the issue of false witnesses, which he argues was investigated by Lebanon's Minister of Justice, but tabled by the government.

"In mid-August, the Council of Ministers asked the Minister of Justice to prepare a report regarding the false witnesses in the Hariri case, and till now the report is ready, and till now the prime minister and the council of ministers [has not] asked to see the report and trace the issue."

Syria has been waging a rear-guard action against the tribunal, accusing it of fabricated testimony⁹. In August, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah used another line of attack, replete¹⁰ with satellite photos, to allege¹¹ that Israel had a hand in Hariri's killing¹².
Leaders of Lebanon's pro-Western March 14th parliamentary bloc have repeatedly accused Syria of masterminding the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri, in addition to a number of deaths of other political opponents.

Syrian ally Hezbollah took control of parts of Beirut in May 2008, after a long and protracted¹³ struggle with the government of then-prime minister Fouad Sanioura. A political deal, mediated¹⁴ by Qatar, and further Syrian pressure after June 2009 parliamentary elections, allowed Hezbollah to enter the government.

Hezbollah's intention

A number of Lebanese analysts have worried openly that Hezbollah, backed by Syria, is planning another attempt to topple the government, following reports that the international tribunal was about to accuse the group of involvement in Hariri's assassination.

Former member of parliament Mustapha Allouche, an ally of Prime Minister Hariri, believes Hezbollah and Syria will do everything possible to stop the tribunal.

"Everyone expects that something bad is going to happen," he said. "However, everyone is also cautious about what is the next step after the bad things happen. This is why everyone believes that if the opposition¹⁵ will boycott the government, most probably this will be a step in the void. The Syrians do not want the tribunal. They are trying politically to stop the tribunal."

Allouche is not sure if Syria is prepared to use force to stop the tribunal, but Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris believes that the possibility exists and the international community must act to forestall¹⁶ such a development:

He says that Hezbollah, in league with Syria, appears to be exerting all sorts of pressure to force the international community to abolish the tribunal, even though this is impossible, since it would need a resolution of the U.N. Security Council, and the tribunal is above international and regional pressure. He says Hezbollah may attempt some sort of military action.

Abou Diab worries that Lebanon is caught in mounting regional conflict between Sunni and Shi'ite Arabs and urges the international community to prevent a new conflict from erupting.
 

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

2 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

3 flex   

n.皮线，花线；vt.弯曲或伸展

参考例句：

• We wound off a couple of yards of wire for a new lamp flex.我们解开几码电线作为新的电灯花线。
• He gave his biceps a flex to impress the ladies.他收缩他的肱二头肌以吸引那些女士们的目光。

4 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

5 aligned   

adj.对齐的，均衡的

参考例句：

• Make sure the shelf is aligned with the top of the cupboard.务必使搁架与橱柜顶端对齐。

6 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

7 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

8 discrediting   

使不相信( discredit的现在分词 )； 使怀疑； 败坏…的名声； 拒绝相信

参考例句：

• It has also led to the discrediting of mainstream macroeconomics. 它还使得人们对主流宏观经济学产生了怀疑。

9 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

10 replete   

adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁

参考例句：

• He was replete with food and drink.他吃喝得饱饱的。
• This immense space may be replete with happiness and glory.这巨大的空间可能充满了幸福和光荣。

11 allege   

vt.宣称，申述，主张，断言

参考例句：

• The newspaper reporters allege that the man was murdered but they have given no proof.新闻记者们宣称这个男人是被谋杀的，但他们没提出证据。
• Students occasionally allege illness as the reason for absence.学生时不时会称病缺课。

12 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。

13 protracted   

adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争，我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 mediated   

调停，调解，斡旋( mediate的过去式和过去分词 )； 居间促成； 影响…的发生； 使…可能发生

参考例句：

• He mediated in the quarrel between the two boys. 他调解两个孩子之间的争吵。
• The government mediated between the workers and the employers. 政府在工人与雇主间搞调和。

15 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

16 forestall   

vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止

参考例句：

• I left the room to forestall involvements.我抢先离开了这房间以免受牵累。
• He followed this rule in order to forestall rumors.他遵守这条规矩是为了杜绝流言蜚语。