A top counterterrorism official says the United States has had a mixed record of success in the fight against al-Qaida terrorists. President Bush's nominee to run the National Counterterrorism Center, Michael Leiter, said Pakistan could do more to crackdown on terror safe-havens.
美国政府高级反恐官员迈克尔.莱特说，在打击基地恐怖分子的斗争中，美国取得了成功，但也有需要加强的地方，比如，巴基斯坦可以对恐怖主义分子藏身处采取更多的打击行动。布什总统提名莱特出任国家反恐中心主任。
Michael Leiter, who has served as Acting Director of the National Counterterrosim Center since November of last year and is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate, listed a number of successes in the fight against terrorism, including tracking and disrupting plots.
迈克尔.莱特去年11月以来一直担任国家反恐中心代理主任，预计国会参议院会很顺利地通过对他的提名。莱特列举了反恐斗争中取得的一些成绩，其中包括跟踪和粉碎恐怖主义阴谋。
But he said more must be done to thwart al-Qaida terrorists, particularly in the Pakistani tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
但是他指出，必须做更多的工作，才能够消灭基地组织恐怖分子，特别是在巴基斯坦与阿富汗接壤的部落地区。
"We have clearly not succeeded in stopping core al-Qaida plotting. We are better at disrupting it, but we have not disrupted the senior leadership that exist in the FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas), and we have also not stopped the organization from promulgating a message, which has successfully gained them more recruits," he said.
莱特说：“我们显然没有成功地阻止基地组织的核心阴谋。我们比较能够干扰他们的阴谋，但是没能破坏在联邦管辖的部落地区活动的高级领导层。另外，我们也没有能够阻止基地组织传播信息，这使他们得以招募更多的人。”
Leiter says the United States is committed to working with Pakistan on the problem of safe-havens, and says success rests with the Pakistani government.
莱特说，美国致力于与巴基斯坦方面合作，解决恐怖分子藏身处的问题，成功与否，取决于巴基斯坦政府。
But some Democrats remain skeptical about Pakistan's ability or willingness to address the issue, prompting this exchange with Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat:
但是一些民主党人对巴基斯坦是否能够或者愿意解决这个问题表示怀疑。俄勒冈州民主党籍参议员罗恩.怀登问：
"WYDEN: Do you think any time soon the Pakistani government will be capable of taking away al-Qaida safe-havens in that area?
“你认为巴基斯坦政府能很快清除那个地区的基地组织藏身处吗？”
LEITER: I think there is much more the government of Pakistan could do."
莱特回答说：“我认为巴基斯坦政府可以做得更多。”
Congressional Democrats are also critical of a U.S. aid program that has reimbursed Pakistan's military nearly $6 billion since 2001 for antiterrorism operations along its border with Afghanistan.
国会民主党人还对美国为巴基斯坦军方2001年以来在巴基斯坦-阿富汗边境地区的反恐行动承担近60亿美元的费用提出批评。
The Government Accountability Office Tuesday released a preliminary report saying Pakistan has been unable to defeat terrorists inside its borders despite the U.S. aid program. The GAO says Pakistani security forces are not structured to target an insurgency and face equipment and training shortages.
政府问责署星期二公布的一项初步报告说，尽管有美国的援助，但巴基斯坦方面未能击败其境内的恐怖分子，巴基斯坦安全部队不能在缺少设备和训练的情况下对付反叛活动。
The House Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the issue Wednesday.
国会众议院外交事务委员会预计星期三将就这个问题举行听证。 |