2007年VOA标准英语-Political Crisis Grows in Pakistan

By Gary Thomas
Washington
18 May 2007

The dismissal of Pakistan's most senior judge has mushroomed into a domestic political crisis for President Pervez Musharraf. The weakened opposition¹ has found a new vigor² to push for an end to President Musharraf's military rule. As VOA correspondent Gary Thomas reports, a showdown appears to be looming³.

Gen. Pervez Musharraf addresses  34th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad, 15 May 2007

President Musharraf has weathered previous challenges to his nearly eight years of military rule, including several assassination⁴ attempts. But now he has sailed into what might be called a "perfect political storm" that, analysts⁶ say, could sweep him from office.

In a telephone interview, former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, a sharp critic of Mr. Musharraf, says the situation in Pakistan is precarious⁷.

"It's threatening to spiral out of control," she said. "I think the regime still has initiative in its hands, but it needs to take certain political steps and be ready to make political compromises. But if it sticks to its stand and refuses to negotiate with the opposition, and tries to suppress the opposition movement, then I think the matter will just spiral out of hand."

The stage appears set for such a confrontation⁸. President Musharraf told Pakistan's private Aaj news channel that Ms. Bhutto and another exiled former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, would not be allowed to return to compete in the national elections scheduled for later this year.

"About their return, no, nobody is returning before elections," he said.

But Ms. Bhutto says she will defy the president's ban, and may do it sooner than she had originally planned.

"I certainly plan to go back later this year," she said. "I was planning to do that against the background of the elections. But I am now reviewing the situation in Pakistan. The events are turning over so quickly that I might have to revise my own plans in the coming weeks. I may have to go back sooner. I have taken no such decision as yet. And if the regime fails to take the initiative in defusing the situation, then I may have to review my travel plans."

The crisis began sprouting⁹ in March, when President Musharraf suspended the chief justice of the Supreme¹⁰ Court for what he claimed was "misconduct." Critics saw the move as a bid by the president to stifle¹¹ an uncooperative jurist who refused to endorse¹² Mr. Musharraf's continuing dual¹³ role as president and army chief. The suspension bloomed into a rallying point for the president's ouster and a return to civilian¹⁴ democratic rule.

Supporters of Pakistani opposition party run after setting on fire a vehicle during a gun battle between two rival groups in Karachi, 12 May 2007

Over the May 12 weekend, clashes between Musharraf supporters and opponents in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, left more than 40 people dead.

Mr. Musharraf had reportedly been exploring avenues of a possible alliance with Mrs. Bhutto. But, indicative of what analysts say is her own perception of her growing political strength, the former prime minister says any political talks right now would be "inappropriate," and that it is up to Mr. Musharraf to make the first move.

"I'm not in a position to say that I'm willing to talk [anymore], Gary," she said. "I'm just not in a position to say that because there's so much public anger. But I do believe that General Musharraf should reach out to all the political parties, call them to a roundtable conference, and say, 'I've heard your voice, I've heard your anger, I understand that there is a lot of frustration¹⁵, and what's the solution?'"

Christine Fair, a Pakistan affairs analyst⁵ at the U.S. Institute for Peace, questions whether General Musharraf will survive politically or, perhaps, even physically¹⁶, given that there have been several assassination attempts.

"The U.S. government has steadfastly¹⁷ refused to even contemplate¹⁸ other alternatives [to Musharraf], even as the necessities for other alternatives are fast looming," she said. "And I'm also at this point of the belief that we may get an alternative that no one has even thought of. I mean, the fact that this has happened and the way it has happened has kind of opened up new possibilities for new actors."

The Bush administration has been a staunch supporter of General Musharraf because of his anti-terrorism efforts. Robert Grenier, who was CIA station chief in Islamabad on September 11, 2001, says President Musharraf's departure could complicate¹⁹ U.S. anti-terrorism efforts in Pakistan.

"A new civilian government whose political posture²⁰ would not be nearly as strong as Musharraf's has been through most of his tenure²¹ as president would have to be far more mindful of domestic political impacts of actions that they take against the militants²², and I think would not be as inclined as Musharraf has been to take forceful action against them," he said. "So, yeah, I think Musharraf's passage from the scene, one way or the other, would greatly complicate our efforts in the war on terror."

There has been criticism from some official quarters in the U.S. that President Musharraf has himself fallen short on his anti-terror efforts because out of fear of alienating²³ the Islamic political parties - some of whom are openly sympathetic to the Taleban and al-Qaida.

1 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。

2 vigor   

n.活力，精力，元气

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。

3 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

4 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

5 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。

6 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。

7 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

8 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

9 sprouting   

v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• new leaves sprouting from the trees 树上长出的新叶
• They were putting fresh earth around sprouting potato stalks. 他们在往绽出新芽的土豆秧周围培新土。 来自名作英译部分

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。

11 stifle   

vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止

参考例句：

• She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
• It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。

12 endorse   

vt.(支票、汇票等)背书，背署；批注；同意

参考例句：

• No one is foolish enough to endorse it.没有哪个人会傻得赞成它。
• I fully endorse your opinions on this subject.我完全拥护你对此课题的主张。

13 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

14 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。

15 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

16 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

17 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

18 contemplate   

vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视

参考例句：

• The possibility of war is too horrifying to contemplate.战争的可能性太可怕了，真不堪细想。
• The consequences would be too ghastly to contemplate.后果不堪设想。

19 complicate   

vt.使复杂化，使混乱，使难懂

参考例句：

• There is no need to complicate matters.没有必要使问题复杂化。
• These events will greatly complicate the situation.这些事件将使局势变得极其复杂。

20 posture   

n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势

参考例句：

• The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
• He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。

21 tenure   

n.终身职位；任期；(土地)保有权，保有期

参考例句：

• He remained popular throughout his tenure of the office of mayor.他在担任市长的整个任期内都深得民心。
• Land tenure is a leading political issue in many parts of the world.土地的保有权在世界很多地区是主要的政治问题。

22 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

23 alienating   

v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
• How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网