VOA标准英语2013--US Advocates Political Solution in Mali

 

US Advocates Political Solution in Mali

The Obama administration says it shares French military goals in the fight against Islamist militants¹ in northern Mali and will help the Economic Community of West African States -- or ECOWAS -- send their own troops.

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed that support with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

"The Secretary did outline the support that we are prepared to offer to ECOWAS countries, as she did make clear that we support the French forces and that we are looking at how best to respond to the requests that they’ve made as well," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.

With rebels in northern Mali linked to al-Qaida, the conflict holds risks for security across the region.

"This constitutes not just a threat against a sovereign state but potentially a trans-national threat that can move across the borders into Niger, into Burkina Faso, into Mauritania, into Senegal as well as Algeria and other places," added Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.

Helping² Malian forces regain³ ground will involve Algeria.

"It has a military that knows the terrain⁴, that knows the players, that has dealt with this before. And so it is going to be absolutely critical to get them engaged," noted⁵ Jennifer Cooke, with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Algeria and the U.S. are working to bring moderates among the northern rebels into a political solution. Ambassador Carson says that is essential.

"Equally important for us, as well as for the people of Mali, is that they move forward in an expeditious⁶ manner as quickly as they can to put in place a roadmap and a the United States is pushing for elections by April," said Carson.

Cooke says that is unlikely given the weakness of the transitional government in Bamako. "There's so little trust right now in any political structure in Bamako that it's going to take I think a lot of external pressure and external support and oversight⁷ to make that work," she stated.

If Mali's transitional leaders are unable to organize elections by April, there will be outside pressure for a reconstituted interim⁸ administration with less military influence and greater participation⁹ from the north. 

1 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。

2 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

4 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 expeditious   

adj.迅速的，敏捷的

参考例句：

• They are almost as expeditious and effectual as Aladdin's lamp.他们几乎像如意神灯那么迅速有效。
• It is more convenien,expeditious and economical than telephone or telegram.它比电话或电报更方便、迅速和经济。

7 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

8 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

9 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。