2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Concerned by Israeli Bombing of Beirut Air

By Scott Stearns
Rostock, Germany
13 July 2006
 
President Bush says he is concerned that the Israeli bombing of Beirut's airport could weaken the Lebanese government. Mr. Bush supports Israel's right to defend itself, and is calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to work for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldiers.

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President Bush says the Islamic militant¹ group Hezbollah started this latest round of violence by firing missiles into Israel and kidnapping two Israeli soldiers.

Smoke billows from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, July 13, 2006   
  
While he says Israel has the right to defend itself against such attacks, Mr. Bush expressed concern over the bombing of Beirut's airport and its impact on the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

"My biggest concern is whether or not actions taken will weaken the Siniora government," said Mr. Bush. "The democracy in Lebanon is an important part of laying a foundation of peace in the region."

President Bush says the international community has worked hard to encourage Lebanon's new democratic government and stop Syrian interference in the country.

He says the government in Damascus is part of the problem, and must take responsibility for helping² to find a solution.

"Syria needs to be held to account. Syria is housing the militant wing of Hamas. Hezbollah has got an active presence in Syria. The truth of the matter is that, if we really want the situation to settle down, the soldiers need to be returned, and President Assad needs to show some leadership toward peace," concluded President Bush.

President George W. Bush confers with German Chancellor³ Angela Merkel after a press conference in Stralsund, Germany, July 13, 2006   
  
The president took questions from reporters following a meeting with the German leader. Chancellor Merkel was asked about French criticism that Israel's bombing of the airport in Beirut was a disproportionate response to the kidnapping of its soldiers.

She said it is the cross-border raids into Israel that escalated⁴ the violence.

"These incursions, such as the kidnapping of soldiers is not acceptable. And the parties to that conflict, obviously, have to use proportionate means, but I am not at all for sort of blurring⁵ the lines between the root causes and the consequences of an action," noted⁶ Merkel.

Chancellor Merkel called for the release of the Israeli soldiers and appealed to all parties to stop the violence.

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

2 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。

3 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

4 escalated   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The fighting escalated into a full-scale war. 这场交战逐步扩大为全面战争。
• The demonstration escalated into a pitched battle with the police. 示威逐步升级，演变成了一场同警察的混战。

5 blurring   

n.模糊，斑点甚多，（图像的）混乱v.（使）变模糊( blur的现在分词 )；（使）难以区分

参考例句：

• Retinal hemorrhage, and blurring of the optic dise cause visual disturbances. 视网膜出血及神经盘模糊等可导致视力障碍。 来自辞典例句
• In other ways the Bible limited Puritan writing, blurring and deadening the pages. 另一方面，圣经又限制了清教时期的作品，使它们显得晦涩沉闷。 来自辞典例句

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。