VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Expresses Solidarity With Pakistan

U.S. President George Bush has expressed solidarity¹ with the people of Pakistan in a phone call with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports Mr. Bush talked earlier to former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

The separate calls followed a new wave of suicide bombings in Pakistan, and came just days after Pervez Musharraf resigned.

The latest attacks occurred Thursday at the nation's main weapons complex, not far from Islamabad. Dozens of people were killed and with scores seriously injured the death toll² is expected to rise.

The twin suicide bombings were among the deadliest attacks in the country in recent years, and Pakistani Taliban militants³ have claimed responsibility.
　
White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe briefs reporters on President Bush's activities, in Crawford, Texas, 21 Aug 2008

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe says during the call to Prime Minister Gilani, President Bush expressed his condolences. Johndroe says he told the prime minister that the extremists behind these attacks pose a threat not just to Pakistan and the United States, but to the world.

"President Bush expressed to Prime Minister Gilani the United States' strong commitment to working with the prime minister and the government of Pakistan to address the ongoing⁴ battle against extremists and to assist Pakistan through its current economic situation," he said.

Speaking to reporters in Texas, near the president's ranch⁵, Johndroe said Mr. Bush also briefed the Pakistani leader on his call earlier in the day to Pervez Musharraf.

"President Bush advised Prime Minister Gilani that he had just spoken this morning to former President Musharraf and that President Bush had wished President Musharraf well and thanked him for his efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as the fight against al-Qaida and extremist groups," added Johndroe.

Mr. Musharraf resigned on Monday to avoid impeachment⁶. President Bush has often referred to him as a strong ally in the war on terror. But there have been concerns in Washington in recent months that Pakistan has not been doing enough to go after extremist and terrorist elements in the rough terrain⁷ near its border with Afghanistan.

These latest attacks may provide a clue as to the Gilani government's willingness to hit back at terrorists. A spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban claims the suicide bombings were in retaliation⁸ for military operations in the border region.

 

1 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

2 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

3 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。

4 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

5 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

6 impeachment   

n.弹劾；控告；怀疑

参考例句：

• Impeachment is considered a drastic measure in the United States.在美国，弹劾被视为一种非常激烈的措施。
• The verdict resulting from his impeachment destroyed his political career.他遭弹劾后得到的判决毁了他的政治生涯。

7 terrain   

n.地面，地形，地图

参考例句：

• He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。
• He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

8 retaliation   

n.报复，反击

参考例句：

• retaliation against UN workers 对联合国工作人员的报复
• He never said a single word in retaliation. 他从未说过一句反击的话。 来自《简明英汉词典》