VOA标准英语2013--Nairobi Attack Tied to Kenyan Involvement in Somalia, says a Former US Diplomat

 

Nairobi Attack Tied to Kenyan Involvement in Somalia, says a Former US Diplomat¹ 

WASHINGTON, DC — A former U.S. diplomat says there is a connection between the Saturday’s terrorist attack in Nairobi and Kenyan military involvement in Somalia.

“Al-Shabab has stated that its rational for this very large attack against a civilian² mall in Nairobi is to show that it wants the Kenyan forces who have been inside Somalia for almost the past two years to pull out,” said David Shinn, who previously³ served as U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia.

The former diplomat said it’s difficult to ascertain⁴ whether there has been any tactical or strategic collaboration⁵ between al-Shabab and al-Qaida in the Nairobi attack. He also noted⁶ one cannot rule out ongoing⁷ contacts between the two groups.

 “Al-Shabab has made very clear that it has an affiliation⁸ with al-Qaida that goes back a number of years. And it will not at all be surprising if there has been at least discussions between al-Qaida Central and the a-Shabab leadership,” he said.

Unconfirmed reports suggest US citizens may have been involved in the attack. If true, Professor Shinn said the situation will be “worrisome.”

“In the past, the Federal Bureau of Investigations⁹ and other elements of the US security apparatus¹⁰ have identified some 40 individuals who at one time were living in the United States affiliated¹¹ in some way with al-Shabab – in some cases going to Somalia and signing up,” he recalled.

“Not all of these people were Somali Americans. A lot of progress has been made in stemming that flow. If there are new people that have joined up in the last year or so, it’s something that needs to be watched carefully, as I’m sure the FBI is doing.”

Al-Shabab has been losing ground in Somalia. Shinn says the Nairobi attack may signal the group’s shifting focus toward neighboring countries.

“Al-Shabab is not able to go toe to toe with professional military organizations like the Kenyan or African Union forces. So it engages in suicide bombings, occasional guerilla attacks – but that doesn’t get it big headlines. The only way it can get a big headline is to pull off a big event like this in Kenya – attacking unarmed civilians¹² in a soft target,” he said.

The Kenyan Red Cross says the attack at Nairobi’s Westgate Shopping Mall killed at least 62 people. As of this writing, around 15 attackers and as many as 15 hostages are believed to be inside the mall.

1 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

4 ascertain   

vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清

参考例句：

• It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
• We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 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。

7 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。

8 affiliation   

n.联系，联合

参考例句：

• There is no affiliation between our organization and theirs,even though our names are similar.尽管两个组织的名称相似，但我们之间并没有关系。
• The kidnappers had no affiliation with any militant group.这些绑架者与任何军事组织都没有紧密联系。

9 investigations   

（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究

参考例句：

• His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
• He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

10 apparatus   

n.装置，器械；器具，设备

参考例句：

• The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。
• They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

11 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

12 civilians   

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。