VOA标准英语2013--美国对叙利亚的打击可能会产生意想不到的后果

 

US Strike on Syria May Have Unintended Consequences 美国对叙利亚的打击可能会产生意想不到的后果

WASHINGTON — A U.S. attack against Syria could have unintended consequences and may not deter¹ Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, some Middle East analysts³ say.

The cruise missiles are ready. The targets are being identified.

President Barack Obama is making the case for a U.S. attack.

It is limited. It does not involve boots on the ground. This is not Iraq and this is not Afghanistan, said Obama.

But analysts say Syria's military can withstand a limited strike. Some analysts are concerned that anything short of a robust⁴ attack may not deter Damascus.

Syrian analyst² Elizabeth OBagy said, "If there is not an adequate response to the use of chemical weapons, it is very likely that he will continue to use them.

Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval has delayed any attack, reportedly allowing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to move troops and military equipment to civilian⁵ areas.

Former CIA officer and Middle East specialist Reuel Marc Gerecht said, I would imagine that the Syrians, since they have had so much time, have taken their materiel [the French term for military equipment] and put it in places that are not easily hit by a cruise missile. It would require fighter bombers⁶ to do that.

And U.S. warplanes may be in the mix. An aircraft carrier is now within striking distance of Damascus.

Syrian opposition⁷ groups are concerned limited strikes will not tip the balance on the battlefield.  

Khaled Saleh of the Syrian National Coalition⁸ wants regime change.

It is time to move the power from the family, the mafia that controlled Syria for the last 40 years. Now it is time to move that power into the hands of the Syrian people, said Saleh.

With Western warnings about its controversial nuclear program, Iran, too, is watching.

If we do not do something in Syria, I think the odds⁹ of the Iranians taking us seriously are zero, said Gerecht.

Polls show many war-weary Americans are opposed to involvement in Syrias civil war.

The president also has an uphill battle convincing Congress.

Senior analyst Michael OHanlon is more optimistic. In the end, I dont believe the administration is going to get a lot of flak from the American public, from the Congress, or from the allies. On the other hand, if they miscalculate or something goes wrong, all bets are off.

On Tuesday night Obama will address the American people, while the war in Syria grinds on.

1 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

2 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

3 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。

4 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

5 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

6 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

9 odds   

n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别

参考例句：

• The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
• Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗？