VOA常速英语2007年-US Defense Chief Says Coming Weeks Could Determ

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
15 November 2007

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Robert Gates says developments in Pakistan in the coming weeks will determine whether Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf can continue to be a U.S. partner in the global war on terrorism. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

At a news conference, Secretary Gates would not be drawn² into a discussion of whether any other Pakistani politician might be a better counter-terrorism partner than President Musharraf. But he indicated that U.S. patience with the Pakistani leader's declaration of a State of Emergency is not unlimited³, even though a senior State Department official has called Musharraf an "indispensable" ally.

"His ability to continue to be a partner in the war on terror very much depends on how developments unfold over the next few weeks in Pakistan," said Robert Gates.

President Musharraf, who is also a general and chief of the Pakistani army, has placed thousands of political opponents in jail, put opposition⁴ leaders under house arrest, closed some newspapers and taken other steps to limit freedoms, in what he calls necessary measures to protect democracy. He has promised elections by January, but he has not said whether he will lift the State of Emergency before the voting.

Secretary Gates indicated Thursday that decisions Musharraf makes in the coming weeks could determine how closely the United States will work with him, even if he stays in power.

"He needs to move beyond the emergency measures as quickly, I think, "he said. "Our view is he needs to step out of his Army Chief of Staff role and become a civilian⁵. But I think it will really depend on how developments unfold."

Secretary Gates also reported that a review of U.S. military aid to Pakistan concluded that none of the aid must be suspended immediately due to the State of Emergency. He says those who have called for a reduction of U.S. aid may be over estimating the United States' ability to influence events in Pakistan.

U.S. officials say cooperation with Pakistani forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border continues, and the substantial flow of supplies through Pakistan for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan has not been affected⁶. But Secretary Gates' comments suggest at least some of that could change if President Musharraf continues to defy U.S. calls for him to step down from his army role and end the State of Emergency.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

4 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。

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 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。