VOA标准英语2011--US Shutters Libya Embassy

The United States Friday suspended operations at its embassy in Libya after U.S. diplomatic personnel were airlifted out of the country. However, officials say diplomatic contacts with representatives of the Moammar Gadhafi government continue.
Officials here announced the embassy closure shortly after receiving confirmation¹ that remaining U.S. diplomats² were safely aboard a chartered airliner³ that left a military airfield⁴ near Tripoli Friday morning.
But they stress that the move does not amount to a break in diplomatic relations with Libya, and that contacts continue with government officials including Foreign Minister Musa Kusa with the hope of influencing Libyan behavior.
Undersecretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy told reporters the decision to suspend operations at the Tripoli post was made Thursday, amid increasing gunfire in the city and that the last 19 U.S. diplomats were told to join the evacuation flight.
"We will execute, always, due prudence⁵ when we engage in diplomatic activities," said Kennedy. "We're there to represent the United States. We're there to advance our economic interests. We're there to assist and protect American citizens. But when the situation becomes significantly insecure, it is at that point prudent⁶ to continue our diplomatic activities with a country via other means."
A senior official who spoke⁷ to reporters said Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns, who is consulting with U.S. allies in Europe, spoke by telephone Friday with Libyan Foreign Minister Kusa, and that contacts will continue as a means of persuading authorities to stop the violence.

1 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

2 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》

3 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

4 airfield   

n.飞机场

参考例句：

• The foreign guests were motored from the airfield to the hotel.用车把外宾从机场送到旅馆。
• The airfield was seized by enemy troops.机场被敌军占领。

5 prudence   

n.谨慎，精明，节俭

参考例句：

• A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。
• The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。

6 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

7 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。