2007年VOA标准英语-Cheney Says Free Nations Cannot Allow Safe Have

By Barry Kalb
Hong Kong
23 February 2007

U.S. Vice¹ President Dick Cheney says that nations like the United States and Australia "simply cannot indulge" in the option of ignoring "safe havens³" for terrorist groups around the world. Speaking in Sydney, he thanked Australia for standing⁴ with the U.S. in the war on terrorism. He also questioned China's commitment to peaceful expansion. Barry Kalb reports from VOA's Asian News Center in Hong Kong.

Despite the presence of small groups of protesters in the streets, Vice President Dick Cheney had a receptive audience Friday for a defense⁵ of the war on terrorism.

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Dick Cheney, right, meets with Kevin Rudd, leader of opposition Australian Labor Party, 23 Feb 2007

Australia under Prime Minister John Howard has been one of the Bush administration's strongest supporters in the terrorism battle. It has sent troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, and Mr. Howard has consistently sided with President Bush's view that free nations must take the fight to the likes of al Qaida.

In a speech in Sydney, Cheney said Australia had earned the world's respect by joining the battle. He said turning away was not an option.

"The notion that free countries can turn our backs on what happens in places like Afghanistan, Iraq or any other possible safe haven² for terrorists is an option that we simply cannot indulge," he said.

Mr. Howard faces elections within a year, and polls indicate that a majority of Australians now favors withdrawing the nation's troops from Iraq.

Still, Mr. Howard reiterated⁸ his support Friday for the Iraq military operation.

Cheney said leaving Iraq before domestic forces can handle security there would only encourage the terrorists.

"They believe we lack the resolve, and the courage, for a long struggle," he said. "And they are absolutely convinced that with enough acts of horror, they can wear us down, force us to change our policies, and get us to abandon our interests in the world."

Cheney also used the Sydney speech to question China's commitment to peace as it grows into an economic and military power. He said China's destruction of a space satellite with a missile on January 11 is "not consistent" with Beijing's "stated goal of a peaceful rise."

And he expressed hesitation⁹ about the recently concluded deal in the North Korea nuclear talks. As a preliminary measure, Pyongyang has agreed to shut down its nuclear reactor¹⁰ in return for donations of fuel oil.

President Bush has hailed the agreement as a step towards full North Korean nuclear disarmament. Cheney, however, is reported to be less enamored of the agreement, and he made his skepticism clear in Sydney. Given North Korea's tests last year of ballistic missiles and a nuclear explosive, Pyongyang, Cheney told his audience, "has much to prove."

The visit to Australia is the final stop in Cheney's Pacific tour this week, which included visits to Japan and the U.S. island of Guam.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 havens   

n.港口，安全地方( haven的名词复数 )v.港口，安全地方( haven的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Your twenty havens would back out at the last minute anyhow. 你那二十个避难所到了最后一分钟也要不认帐。 来自辞典例句
• Using offshore havens to avoid taxes and investor protections. 使用海面的港口避免税和投资者保护。 来自互联网

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 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。

6 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。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

8 reiterated   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• "Well, I want to know about it,'she reiterated. “嗯，我一定要知道你的休假日期，"她重复说。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some twenty-two years later President Polk reiterated and elaborated upon these principles. 大约二十二年之后，波尔克总统重申这些原则并且刻意阐释一番。

9 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。

10 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。