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恐怖袭击在全球扩张

时间:2016-01-19 15:02:02

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Terror Attacks Expand Worldwide 恐怖袭击在全球扩张

UPDATE: In Burkina Faso, at least 23 people from 18 countries were killed after suspected Islamist militants1 attacked a hotel this weekend, say Burkina Faso government officials.

They said 126 hostages -- some wounded -- were rescued Saturday at the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou. Islamic jihadists were also killed during the fight between terrorists and government forces.

Terrorist attacks last week in Indonesia, Turkey, Cameroon, Pakistan and other countries display the growing reach of terror groups.

The Islamic State terror group took credit for the attacks in Istanbul and Jakarta, Indonesia. The attacks left 10 German travelers dead in Istanbul, and seven dead, in Jakarta. That included five attackers.

In Pakistan, 15 people were killed Wednesday in a suicide bombing near a medical clinic claimed by IS-related Taliban. In Cameroon, 13 were killed Wednesday in a market bombing claimed by Boko Haram.

The goal of the terror groups is to generate fear across the globe. The attack in Indonesia is a big display that the Islamic State has expanded to Indonesia. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country.

However, the bombings there could have been worse. Indonesian officials said a large bomb and five smaller devices did not explode. Officials said that showed attackers wanted to cause more destruction than they did, like the Paris attacks in November 2015 that killed 130.

“Thank God it didn’t happen,” said Anton Charliyan, an Indonesian National Police Major General.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged people to stay calm.

“This act is clearly aimed at disturbing public order and spreading terror among people,” the president said. “The state, the nation, and the people should not be afraid of, or be defeated, by such terror acts.”

In Turkey, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country took strong action after the attack Tuesday near Istanbul’s famous Blue Mosque2. Davutoglu said Turkish bombing along the border with Syria and in northern Iraq killed 200 Islamic State militants.

The terrorists targeted areas in Istanbul and Jakarta that are popular with Western tourists. There are two likely reasons. One, to kill Westerners. And two, to discourage travel. That would hurt their economies.

James Gelvin, co-director of UCLA’s Center for Near Eastern Studies, told VOA that Turkey was chosen because it is close to the Syrian border. Also, he said, Turkey backs U.S. military operations against the Islamic State, and recently joined the fight.

The Islamic State terror group has recruited Indonesians who speak Malay. They are brought to Raqqa, Syria, to train for terror activities. Raqqa is the unofficial capital city of the IS terror group, said Gelvin.

“ISIS was interested in using them not only as fighters, but to attract more Indonesians to their territory," Gelvin said.

Debate on approach to combat IS

In his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama defended his balanced approach to the Islamic State fight.

“Priority No. 1 is protecting the American people and going after terrorist networks,” Obama said. “Both al Qaeda and now ISIL pose a direct threat to our people, because in today’s world, even a handful of terrorists who place no value on human life, including their own, can do a lot of damage. … We have to take them out,” he said.

“But as we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup3 trucks, twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages -- they pose an enormous danger to civilians4; they have to be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence,” he said.

Republicans say the president’s strategy is not working. They point to a growing number of deadly Islamic State attacks, including the killing5 last year of 14 by two IS terror group sympathizers in San Bernardino, California.

“Our nation does not need lofty words,” said Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona. “It needs bold action. Our nation does not need abstract calls to hope. It needs a concrete strategy to confront the challenges of a more dangerous world. Unfortunately, it appears these tasks will be left to the next president.”

In addition to the attacks in Turkey and Indonesia, the Islamic State took credit for these other attacks during the first two weeks of 2016:

On January 8, gunmen carrying an ISIS flag opened fire on a Red Sea resort in Egypt. At least two tourists were injured.

On January 4, militants linked to the Islamic State tried to capture an oil port along Libya’s coast. At least seven people were killed.

On January 11, a teenager attacked a Jewish teacher with a machete in Marseille, France. Police said the teenager told them he acted for God and the Islamic State. The teacher survived.

On January 2, seven Indian military workers were killed during an attack on an air base in India. India blames the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group, based in Pakistan.

Words in This Story

display -- v. to put something where people can see or notice it.

clinic – n. place where people get medical help

generate – v. to produce or cause something to be produced

disturbing -- v.  to worry or upset someone

discourage – v. to make someone less determined6, hopeful, or confident

recruit – v. to find suitable people and get them to join their cause or group

pose – v. to create a problem or threat

handful – n. an amount that you can hold in your hand

strategy – n. a plan or method for achieving a particular goal

sympathizer – n. a person who feels or shows support for or approval of something

lofty – adj. rising to a great height

abstract – adj. relating to or involving general ideas or qualities rather than specifics

task – n. a job for someone to do


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 militants 3fa50c1e4338320d8495907fdc5bdbaf     
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 mosque U15y3     
n.清真寺
参考例句:
  • The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
  • Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前,清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。
3 pickup ANkxA     
n.拾起,获得
参考例句:
  • I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。
4 civilians 2a8bdc87d05da507ff4534c9c974b785     
平民,百姓( civilian的名词复数 ); 老百姓
参考例句:
  • the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
  • At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后,至少有300名平民下落不明。
5 killing kpBziQ     
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。
6 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

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