2007年VOA标准英语-US Committed to Working with Pakistan to Shut D

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
22 July 2007

President Bush's homeland security advisor¹ says the United States wants to work with Pakistan to shut down terrorist outposts along the Pakistani-Afghan border. But Frances Townsend also makes clear, the Bush administration may be willing to launch military strikes in the remote region as a last resort. VOA's Paula Wolfson has more from the White House.

Frances Townsend briefs media on actions to protect Americans from terrorist threats (file photo)

Frances Townsend says the United States is committed to working with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to control terrorist activity along the border.

"First and foremost, we are working with our Pakistani allies to deny the safe havens," she said.

But during an appearance on the Fox News Sunday television program she had this response when asked if the United States might have to take additional steps on its own.

"We are working with them, but the president has been clear," added Townsend. "Job number one is to protect the American people. And there are no options that are off the table."

A short time later, Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri warned against military strikes. He spoke³ on CNN's Late Edition.

"If you have superiority in technical intelligence, please share that with us," said Kasuri. "And when you talk of going after targets, you will lose the battle for hearts and minds."

The exchange followed the release last week of a report by the U.S. intelligence community that warned of a resurgent al-Qaida. The report said the terrorist organization was able to set up centers of operation in the border region, in large part because of a failed peace treaty between the Musharraf government and tribal⁴ leaders.

National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell told NBC's Meet the Press that President Musharraf's attempt at a political solution in the region clearly backfired.

"Rather than pushing al-Qaida out, they made a safe haven² for training and recruiting. And so in that period of time al-Qaida has been able to regain⁵ some of its momentum," said McConnell.

McConnell went on to say he believes al-Qaida leader Osama bin⁶ Laden⁷ is alive and well somewhere in the tribal areas of Pakistan. But he stressed that Pervez Musharraf is one of America's strongest allies in the war on terrorism, noting the Pakistani president has launched an offensive since the demise⁸ of the agreement with tribal leaders that has resulted in heavy casualties for the Pakistani military.

1 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

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 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

5 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

6 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

7 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

8 demise   

n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让

参考例句：

• He praised the union's aims but predicted its early demise.他赞扬协会的目标，但预期这一协会很快会消亡。
• The war brought about the industry's sudden demise.战争道致这个行业就这么突然垮了。