VVOA常速英语2020--美国制裁黎巴嫩两名前部长

Next, an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government. Lebanon is facing a dire¹ economic crisis as a result of decades of governmental mismanagement, corruption³, and the repeated failure of Lebanese leaders to undertake meaningful, sustained reforms. The devastating⁴ August 4 explosion has only magnified calls by the Lebanese people for economic and institutional reforms, better governance, and an end to the endemic corruption that has plagued Lebanon. The United States stands with the Lebanese people who are saying “business as usual is unacceptable.” While the Lebanese people suffer through an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, Iran-backed Hezbollah and its supporters exploit the rampant⁵ political corruption that has been pervasive⁶ in Lebanon for decades to promote their terrorist and illicit⁷ activities. On September 8, the United States designated Yusuf Finyanus and Ali Hassan Khalil, two former government ministers, for providing material support to Hezbollah, pursuant to Executive Order 13224. “While holding positions in previous Lebanese cabinets,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a written statement, “Finyanus and Khalil directed political and economic favors to Hezbollah, including ensuring Hezbollah-owned companies won government contracts worth millions of dollars and moving money from government ministries⁸ to Hezbollah-associated institutions.”

以下是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。黎巴嫩正面临严重的经济危机，这都是由于数十年来政府管理不善，腐败猖獗，以及领导人一再未能采取有意义的和持续的改革。8月4日毁灭性的爆炸让黎巴嫩民众更加大声呼吁，要求政府进行经济和体制改革，改善治理，结束困扰黎巴嫩的腐败现象。美国支持黎巴嫩人民“不接受一切照旧”的呼声。在黎巴嫩人民饱受经济危机和新冠肺炎疫情折磨之际，伊朗支持的真主党及其支持者利用黎巴嫩几十年来普遍存在的猖獗的政治腐败来推行他们的恐怖主义和非法活动。9月8日，美国政府根据13224号行政命令对黎巴嫩前政府部长优素福·菲尼亚努斯和阿里·哈桑·哈利勒实施制裁，原因是他们向真主党提供物质支持。“菲尼亚努斯和哈利勒之前在黎巴嫩内阁任职期间，”美国国务卿蓬佩奥在一份书面声明中表示，“向真主党提供政治和经济恩惠，包括确保真主党拥有的公司赢得价值数百万美元的政府承包合同，并将资金从政府部门向与真主党有关的机构转移。”

Yusuf Finyanus is a former minister of transportation while Ali Hassan Khalil is a former minister of finance, health, and agriculture. Both men abused their positions to direct public funds to the terrorist group. “Hezbollah depends on Lebanon’s corrupt² political system for survival,” wrote Secretary of State Pompeo. “Anyone helping⁹ to advance Hezbollah’s political or economic interests is further eroding¹⁰ what remains¹¹ of effective governance and facilitating financing for terrorism.” The Treasury¹² Department noted¹³ in a written statement that “the multi-layered crisis in Lebanon stems from decades of corruption and economic mismanagement. Since October 2019, popular, cross-sectarian protests across the country demanded political and economic reform in Lebanon. The protesters’ calls for “all of them, means all of them” demonstrates the seriousness of their desire for reform and to pull back the curtain on certain groups’ corruption, including Hezbollah.” “Corruption has run rampant in Lebanon, and Hezbollah has exploited the political system to spread its malign¹⁴ influence,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. “The United States stands with the people of Lebanon in their calls for reform and will continue to use its authorities to target those who oppress and exploit them.” That was an editorial reflecting the views of the United States government.

菲尼亚努斯是前运输部长，哈利勒是前财政、卫生和农业部长。两人滥用职权将公款拨给恐怖组织。“真主党依赖黎巴嫩腐败的政治体制而生存，”国务卿蓬佩奥在声明中写道。“任何帮助推动真主党政治经济利益的人都是在进一步侵蚀黎巴嫩残存的有效治理，并为恐怖主义融资提供便利。”美国财政部在一份书面声明中指出，“黎巴嫩的多重危机源于数十年来的腐败和经济管理不善。自2019年10月以来，全国各地爆发了跨教派的民众抗议，他们要求黎巴嫩进行政治和经济改革。抗议人士呼吁‘所有人，就是指所有人’，这表明他们有着严肃的意愿，渴望改革并揭露包括真主党在内的某些组织的腐败行为。”美国财政部长史蒂文·姆努钦说，“黎巴嫩腐败猖獗，真主党利用这个政治体制去散布其邪恶影响。”“美国支持黎巴嫩人民的改革呼声，美国当局会继续打压那些压迫和剥削黎巴嫩人民的人。”这是一篇反映美国政府政策立场的社论。

1 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

2 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

5 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

6 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

7 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

8 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。

9 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

10 eroding   

侵蚀，腐蚀( erode的现在分词 )； 逐渐毁坏，削弱，损害

参考例句：

• The coast is slowly eroding. 海岸正慢慢地被侵蚀。
• Another new development is eroding the age-old stereotype of the male warrior. 另一个新现象是，久已形成的男人皆武士的形象正逐渐消失。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

13 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

14 malign   

adj.有害的；恶性的；恶意的；v.诽谤，诬蔑

参考例句：

• It was easy to see why the cartoonists regularly portrayed him as a malign cherub.难怪漫画家总是把他画成一个邪恶的小天使。
• She likes to malign innocent persons.她爱诋毁那些清白的人。