2006年VOA标准英语-White House Refuses Comment on Iran Report

By Paula Wolfson
White House
19 December 2006

The Bush administration says it will not comment on reports it is considering a naval¹ build-up off the coast of Iran. The reports began to surface as Iranian leaders vowed² to defy any international sanctions relating to Tehran's nuclear ambitions. VOA's Paula Wolfson has more on the story.

News organizations in the United States are quoting unnamed defense³ department officials as saying the Pentagon is considering a buildup of U.S. Navy forces in the Gulf⁴.

When asked about the reports, Bush administration spokesmen refused direct comment.

At the Pentagon, spokesman Brian Whitman said the navy moves ships when necessary, but does not talk about specific moves, plans and contingencies⁵.

Tony Snow

White House press secretary Tony Snow sounded a similar theme.

He said, "We do not comment on tactical moves, reported or otherwise."

Snow was asked if the administration might try to use a military buildup to send a message to Tehran that its support for extremists in neighboring countries must stop, and its uranium enrichment activities must cease.

"Let there be no mistake what our position is toward the Iranians," he said. "But again, when it comes to describing any ongoing⁶ military activity, you bet it is not something that I am going to do."

There is already one American aircraft carrier in the region, the USS Dwight David Eisenhower. It arrived a few months ago, part of a flotilla sent to the area to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

At about the same time, the United States led a six-nation naval training exercise aimed at blocking the smuggling⁷ of nuclear weapons in the Gulf.

Although it has never ruled out military action, the Bush administration has been putting the focus on diplomacy⁸ in its efforts to change Iran's behavior.

Negotiations⁹ are under way with members of the U.N. Security Council on a possible sanctions package designed to convince Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, which can produce nuclear fuel for civilian¹⁰ or military purposes.

Iran claims it is pursuing the technology for peaceful purposes, to meet the nation's energy needs. But the United States and many of its allies stress Iran has large oil reserves, and wants to build a nuclear arsenal¹¹.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that U.N. sanctions would not stop his country from pursuing its uranium enrichment program. He warned Britain, France and Germany that Tehran will consider their support for sanctions to be an act of hostility¹². However, he did not say exactly how Iran might retaliate¹³.

1 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

5 contingencies   

n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一

参考例句：

• We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
• We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

6 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。

7 smuggling   

n.走私

参考例句：

• Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
• The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。

8 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 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。

11 arsenal   

n.兵工厂，军械库

参考例句：

• Even the workers at the arsenal have got a secret organization.兵工厂工人暗中也有组织。
• We must be the great arsenal of democracy.我们必须成为民主的大军火库。

12 hostility   

n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争

参考例句：

• There is open hostility between the two leaders.两位领导人表现出公开的敌意。
• His hostility to your plan is well known.他对你的计划所持的敌意是众所周知的。

13 retaliate   

v.报复，反击

参考例句：

• He sought every opportunity to retaliate against his enemy.他找机会向他的敌人反击。
• It is strictly forbidden to retaliate against the quality inspectors.严禁对质量检验人员进行打击报复。