US Ready to Attack Iraq With or Without Allied Support, says

Broadcast: Jan 26, 2003

 

US Secretary state Colin Powell said Sunday that Iraq has failed to provide the truth in its weapons declaration and that it must disarm¹ or be disarmed². In a hard-hitting speech to the World Economic Forum³ in Davos, Switzerland, Secretary Powell said the United States is ready to attack Iraq with or without allied⁴ support.

Secretary Powell said the United States is determined⁵ to see the current arms crisis in Iraq continue no longer. He argued that there are no signs of honest disarmament being carried out by Baghdad.

"Let the Iraqi regime have no doubt, however, if it does not disarm peacefully at this ¹⁾juncture⁶, it will be disarmed down the road. The United States believes that time is running out. We will not shrink from war if that is the only way to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. We continue to reserve our sovereign right to take military action against Iraq alone or in a coalition⁷ of the willing," Mr. Powell said.

Secretary Powell said the Washington is eager to hear the U.N. chief arms inspectors⁸ report Monday, and will consult with its allies about what the next steps should be. But he warned that multi-lateralism cannot become an excuse for inaction.

He said in ^2）endorsing Security Council Resolution 1441, council members assumed a heavy responsibility to put their will behind their words. "Saddam Hussein and others of his ilk would like nothing better [than] to see the world community back away from this resolution, instead of backing it with their solemn resolve," Mr. Powell said.

Secretary Powell said the Iraqi leader had clear ties to terrorist groups, including Osama bin⁹ Laden's al-Qaida.

He said that Iraq's weapons declaration had failed to account for missing biological and chemical weapons as well as tens of thousands of liters of ³⁾anthrax and the ⁴⁾toxin¹⁰ that causes ⁵⁾botulism. He expressed fear that these materials or technology could be passed to terrorist groups. For that reason, he argued, time is running out for Iraq's disarmament.

Dale Gavlak VOA news, Davos, Switzerland.

 

1)    juncture [5dVQNktFE]n.时机，关键，接合点

2)    endorse[in5dC:s]v. 签注(文件), 认可, 签署

3)    anthrax [5AnWrAks]n.[兽]炭疽热

4)    toxin [5tCksin]n.[生化][生]毒素

5)    botulism [5bCtju7lizEm]n.波特淋菌中毒, 香肠中毒

1 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

2 disarmed   

v.裁军( disarm的过去式和过去分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• Most of the rebels were captured and disarmed. 大部分叛乱分子被俘获并解除了武装。
• The swordsman disarmed his opponent and ran him through. 剑客缴了对手的械，并对其乱刺一气。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

4 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

5 determined   

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。

6 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

7 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

8 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bin   

n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件

参考例句：

• He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
• He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。

10 toxin   

n.毒素，毒质

参考例句：

• Experts have linked this condition to a build-up of toxins in the body.专家已把这一病症与体内毒素的积累联系起来。
• Tests showed increased levels of toxin in shellfish.检验表明水生有壳动物的毒素水平提高了。