VOA常速英语2007年-Pakistan's Musharraf Attends Military Farewell

By Barry Newhouse
Islamabad
27 November 2007

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has attended military farewell ceremonies before his expected retirement¹ as head of the country's armed forces.  VOA's Barry Newhouse reports from Islamabad that analysts³ say the move could end up improving both the military and the government.

General Musharraf met with senior commanders at the military headquarters in Rawalpindi, bidding them farewell in closed-door ceremonies that are part of the military's formal retirement process.

Officials said General Musharraf will retire Wednesday, when his successor General Ashfaq Kayani takes over.  

Interior Ministry⁴ spokesman Javid Iqbal Cheema said the transfer of power to General Kayani will not affect the military's fight against terrorism.

"I do not think the doffing⁵ of uniform would have any impact on this war on terror," Cheema said. "It is a challenge and a very serious threat to our internal security and we would continue our efforts to rid the country of extremists and terrorists."

Retired⁶ general and military analyst² Talat Masood said General Musharraf's military retirement would allow the new army chief to focus on the military while the president handles only political issues.

Masood said the retirement could also fundamentally change Pakistan's government, weakening the military's role in shaping policy and strengthening political parties.

"There will be a very different power structure emerging," Masood said. "He [Musharraf] has to now give in to the political parties themselves."

Opposition⁷ parties have welcomed the general's retirement announcement, but have not toned-down their criticism of his policies.

Critics say Pakistan's continuing emergency rule and a caretaker government made up largely of politicians from President Musharraf's party are signs that the president is trying to rig national elections in January.

Farzana Raja is a political candidate with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party.  She says opposition parties are trying to stay united on whether they will boycott⁸ the polls.

"We are in contact with the other political parties to make sure we take one decision, all together, for the restoration of true democracy in this country," Raja said.

While nearly all opposition parties have registered candidates for the January 8 vote, they say they may still boycott the elections unless the government ends emergency rule, reinstates deposed⁹ Supreme¹⁰ Court justices, and restores the Constitution.

1 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

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 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 doffing   

n.下筒，落纱v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The sige of the package in use determines the frequency of doffing. 所用卷装的尺寸决定了落纱的次数。 来自辞典例句
• Obstruction in the movement of Aprons during doffing in modern cards. 新型梳棉机在落卷时皮板输送带（或皮圈，围裙）运行受阻。 来自互联网

6 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

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 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

9 deposed   

v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证

参考例句：

• The president was deposed in a military coup. 总统在军事政变中被废黜。
• The head of state was deposed by the army. 国家元首被军队罢免了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。