2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Hamas Must Renounce Violence

By Scott Stearns
White House
24 February 2006

George Bush   
  
President Bush says the responsibilities of leading a Palestinian government should moderate extremist views within Hamas. Mr. Bush again said Washington will not support that government unless Hamas renounces² violence and recognizes Israel.

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As political leaders in Hamas work to form a new Palestinian administration, President Bush says he believes the responsibilities of governing will have a moderating effect on those who assume power in free elections.

"It's easier to be a martyr³ than a mayor or a Cabinet minister," said Mr. Bush.  "When you are responsible for building roads and bridges and power stations and educating people and providing health, you are less likely to blow up health clinics and schools and bridges."

President Bush says Hamas campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption⁴ and improving social services, and that is how they will be judged by voters.  If they do not deliver on those promises, Mr. Bush says, they will be voted out.

The United States still considers Hamas a terrorist organization, and is refusing to back a Hamas government unless they renounce¹ violence.

"The leaders of Hamas have a choice to make," he added.  "If they want the help of America and the international community to build a prosperous, independent Palestinian state, they must recognize Israel, disarm⁵, reject terrorism and work for lasting⁶ peace."

Following the Hamas victory at the polls, President Bush says, some people criticized his policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East as backfiring and destabilizing the region.

He says such criticism is based on what he says is the false assumption that the Middle East was a bastion of civility before Washington came in and disturbed the status quo.

"The status quo in the Middle East was dangerous and unacceptable, and our security demanded that we change it," he explained.

President Bush says that status quo led to the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

He says radical⁷ extremism flourishes in societies where people cannot freely express their views, and it will take time to build moderate political parties in the Middle East.

"It should come as no surprise that, after 60 years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East, civil society in that region is not strong, and those with the most extreme views are the most organized," he said.

President Bush says free elections cannot wait for perfect political conditions, and are in themselves instruments for change, strengthening forces of freedom by allowing people to organize and express their views.

1 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

2 renounces   

v.声明放弃( renounce的第三人称单数 )；宣布放弃；宣布与…决裂；宣布摒弃

参考例句：

• Japan renounces all right, title and claim to Formosa and the Pescadores. 日本放弃对福尔摩沙（台湾）及澎湖的一切权利，主张（名称）及所有权。 来自互联网
• He renounces Christianity, temporarily straining his relationship with his parents. 他放弃了基督教信仰，从而与父母的关系暂时变得紧张。 来自互联网

3 martyr   

n.烈士，殉难者；vt.杀害，折磨，牺牲

参考例句：

• The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
• The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。

4 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

5 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

7 radical   

n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的

参考例句：

• The patient got a radical cure in the hospital.病人在医院得到了根治。
• She is radical in her demands.她的要求十分偏激。