VOA标准英语2010年-Yemen: Forces Killed 2 al-Qaida Member

Yemeni security officials say their forces killed two members of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the group US officials say is threatening foreign interests in Yemen. France joined the US and Britain in closing it embassy because of the security threats.

Elizabeth Arrott | Cairo 04 January 2010
Yemeni security armored vehicle on patrol in San'a (file photo)

The Yemeni officials say two suspects were killed in fighting outside the capital, Sana'a.

Authorities have stepped up security around Sana'a and its airport.  Foreign embassies are asking their citizens in Yemen to be on alert.

The United States is investigating the ties between Yemeni militants¹ and the man accused of trying to blow up an airplane in the United States on Christmas Day.  The Nigerian suspect says he received training from the al-Qaida affiliate² in Yemen.

The United States says it will double its aid to Yemen this year, giving it $140 million to counter al-Qaida as the government fights a rebellion in the north and a secessionist movement in the south.

American Institute for Yemeni Studies resident director Stephen Steinbeiser is concerned about how the money will be spent, noting that Yemen's problems have been brewing³ for years.

"I am not sure that giving even huge amounts of money at this point will make a significant difference especially because, if the money is given just for military purposes, I do not see a military solution to these problems," he said.  "I think that it is true that the problems are symptomatic of social issues and economic issues which the country has been grappling with for a number of years and really needs help developing programs."

The Sana'a-based institute director says alienation⁴ is particularly a problem with Yemenis returning from years in the American military prison at Guantanamo Bay where they were held as terror suspects.

"I think that it would be very easy for prisoners who are held in Guantanamo Bay, detainees, to return to the country and to be very angry and look for western targets and particularly American targets," he added.  "The government does not seem to have a full rehabilitation⁵ program in effect."

It is not clear if some of the foreign aid will go to more comprehensive rehabilitation projects.  Britain plans to hold an international conference on improving the security situation in Yemen later this month.

1 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。

2 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

3 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

4 alienation   

n.疏远；离间；异化

参考例句：

• The new policy resulted in the alienation of many voters.新政策导致许多选民疏远了。
• As almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated,the alienation index goes up.随着人与人之间几乎一切能想到的接触方式的自动化，感情疏远指数在不断上升。

5 rehabilitation   

n.康复，悔过自新，修复，复兴，复职，复位

参考例句：

• He's booked himself into a rehabilitation clinic.他自己联系了一家康复诊所。
• No one can really make me rehabilitation of injuries.已经没有人可以真正令我的伤康复了。