VOA标准英语2014--Critics Say Venezuelan Protests Test Limits of Military's Support 批评家称委内瑞拉抗议考验军方支持极限

 

Critics Say Venezuelan Protests Test Limits of Military's Support 批评家称委内瑞拉抗议考验军方支持极限

During the two months of deadly anti-government protests that have rocked the oil-rich nation of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro has accused the opposition¹ of trying to initiate² a coup³.  Though a small number of military officers have been arrested for allegedly plotting against the government, the leadership of the armed forces continues to support the president, at least for now.

Hundreds of students took part in a barefoot march through Caracas, as talks between the government and opposition to end anti-government demonstrations⁴ continued with no end in sight.

The ongoing⁵ crisis has led to speculation⁶ about whether the Venezuelan military will continue to support the socialist⁷ government of President Nicolas Maduro if conditions in the country continue to deteriorate⁸.

President Maduro has repeatedly accused the protesters of trying to stage a coup. In March, three air force generals were arrested for plotting against the government.  But the military leadership has expressed its loyalty⁹ to the embattled president.

Alejandro Sanchez, an analyst¹⁰ with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, says that is, in part, because Venezuela has become Latin America’s largest weapons buyer.

“In spite of the economy being as bad as it is, the military’s budget doesn’t seem to have been affected¹¹. I would say as much because for the past couple of months we keep hearing all about these sales," said Sanchez.

The late President Hugo Chavez cut military ties with the United States in 2005 and replaced most military leaders with officers loyal to him.  

General John Kelly, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, says today it has zero military contact with Venezuela.

“Very few officers in Venezuela of any rank have any recollection of working with the U.S. military.  Those that do, frankly¹², I think are, well, they’re probably retired¹³ now," said Kelly.

Some critics of the Maduro government say the deteriorating¹⁴ economic and security conditions in the country are testing the limits of the military’s support. Latin America analyst Roger Noriega is with the American Enterprise Institute.

“Maduro is not a military man, and he doesn’t have the confidence, certainly hasn’t inspired the confidence of the military in the last year, and I think the military is very wary¹⁵ about following Maduro over a cliff," said Noriega.

Opposition leader Henrique Capriles says he does not want a coup but is demanding action to address the country’s high crime rate, shortages of goods, and soaring inflation.  

 

Critics of the government do not expect the military to intervene, but, if the situation in Venezuela spirals out of control, they argue the armed forces have a constitutional role to maintain order.

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 initiate   

vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入

参考例句：

• A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。
• They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

3 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 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。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

7 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

8 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

9 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

10 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。

11 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

12 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

13 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

14 deteriorating   

恶化，变坏( deteriorate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The weather conditions are deteriorating. 天气变得越来越糟。
• I was well aware of the bad morale and the deteriorating factories. 我很清楚，大家情绪低落，各个工厂越搞越坏。

15 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。