voa标准英语2008年-Pakistan: At Least 13 Killed in Suspected US Mi

A suspected U.S. missile attack has killed at least 13 suspected militants² in a remote region of Pakistan close to the Afghan border where al-Qaida-linked operatives are believed to have established their bases. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.
　

US soldier holds surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle on roof of his unit's combat outpost along Afghan-Pakistan border, 07 Nov 2008

Local intelligence officials and witnesses have reported several missiles allegedly fired by an unmanned U.S. spy plane hit an al-Qaida-linked training facility in the North Waziristan tribal³ region. At least seven foreign militants are said to be among those killed in the attack but their identity is not known.

U.S. drones are said to have carried out a series of missile strikes against militant¹ hideouts in Pakistan's border region since the beginning of September. While American officials do not comment on these attacks, Pakistani leaders say they are not only a violation⁴ of its territorial⁵ sovereignty but are undermining the government's anti-terror efforts.

Officials in Islamabad hope that President-elect Barack Obama's new administration will be more sensitive to Pakistan's concerns. Analysts⁶ like former army general Talat Massood say that civilian⁷ deaths in U.S missile strikes are also fueling anti-America sentiment in the region.

"I think we have to emphasize to the new [U.S.] leadership that the cost benefit ratio of these drone attacks is not very productive or not very useful," Massood said. "And we have to show it to them that what are you really gaining? You are saying that you may be hitting a few targets, yes you may be killing⁸ a few people who are even high in the so-called third tier leadership or fourth tier leadership [of al-Qaida], but look you are also killing a lot of innocent people."

Friday's attack comes days after head of the U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus met with Pakistan's civilian and military leadership during his first trip to Islamabad. In his remarks after visiting the close U.S ally, General Petraeus said that the missile strikes in the Pakistani tribal areas have killed three important "extremist leaders." But he did not identify them.

Media reports say that al-Qaida's deputy chief of operations, Khalid Habib, was killed in October in one of the attacks carried out by U.S. drones in South Waziristan, another militant-infested tribal region on the Afghan border.

Afghan and U.S-led forces stationed in Afghanistan say that militants hiding on the Pakistani side of the border are playing a role in fueling the Taliban insurgency⁹.

Pakistan maintains its security forces are conducting major operations to secure its border region and have killed more than 1,500 insurgents¹⁰ in the Bajaur tribal region since the beginning of August.

The government is also engaged in efforts win support of local population for its anti-terror campaign in the tribal areas. But militants have frequently targeted those siding with the government. On Thursday, a suicide bomber¹¹ struck a meeting of pro-government tribal elders, killing up to 20 people in Bajaur. The gathering¹² was discussing plans to drive militants out of their areas.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 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。

3 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。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

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 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。

8 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

9 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

10 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

11 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

12 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。