2007年VOA标准英语-Coalition Navy Watches for Terrorists Fleeing S

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
04 January 2007

A U.S. Navy spokesman says, five to 10 coalition¹ ships are patrolling off the coast of Somalia to prevent suspected terrorists from escaping by sea, following the military defeat of Islamists who took control of much of the country earlier this year. The spokesman says the ships have so far not intercepted² any suspects. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.

A statement by the U.S. Navy regional command in Bahrain says sailors on coalition ships have been boarding suspect vessels³ off the Somali coast to ensure there are no wanted terrorists on board.

A spokesman, Commander Kevin Aandahl, says some of the ships that normally patrol the Red Sea and waters off the southeast coast of the Saudi Peninsula have been concentrated along Somalia's 2,700-kilometer coastline.

"What we are doing is prudently⁴ positioning our ships in the area to deny the sea as an escape route to al-Qaida terrorists, or those affiliated⁵ with al-Qaida," he said.

Commander Aandahl says this operation, involving two U.S. ships and several more from other coalition members, is not very different from the usual coalition patrols in the region, aimed at denying terrorists the use of the sea and preventing piracy⁶.

"We have the capability⁷, obviously, to patrol the coastline." he said. "We have a very robust⁸ radar⁹ package that we use to view not only what is in the air, but what is on the surface."

"And, when the occasion arises where something is suspicious, then we will conduct a boarding, just to make sure everything is on the up and up [correct]," he continued.

Commander Aandahl says the naval¹⁰ task force has so far not found any suspected terrorists trying to flee Somalia.

Bush administration officials have accused the former Islamist leaders in Somalia of harboring al-Qaida terrorists, including some blamed for the attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, and attacks on Israeli targets in Kenya in 2002.

Officials said Wednesday that the naval operation, and a regional diplomatic effort, are aimed at making sure those alleged¹¹ terrorists do not escape, now that Ethiopian and Somali government forces have driven Somalia's Islamic Courts movement from the capital.

U.S. and coalition naval forces patrol all the waters around the Saudi peninsula and in the northern Indian Ocean. The task force assigned to Somalia's coastal¹² waters is commanded by a British officer, who is responsible for patrols from the Red Sea around to the Gulf¹³ of Oman. Other coalition task forces patrol in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran and in support of ground forces in Iraq.

News reports quote U.S. officials as saying a second U.S. aircraft carrier group will soon be added to the Gulf force, but spokesmen say they cannot comment on troop movement plans.

The increased naval presence off the coast of Africa comes as the U.S. government is moving to create a new military command focused exclusively on the continent. Currently, three major U.S. commands have responsibility for various parts of Africa.

But the top officer in the U.S. Navy, Admiral Mike Mullen, said last week that President Bush has approved plans to consolidate¹⁴ that responsibility under a new Africa Command.

Officials and analysts¹⁵ say the new command will focus more attention and resources on efforts to improve the capabilities¹⁶ of local African militaries, and will also enhance U.S. efforts to prevent terrorists from operating on the continent.

President Bush is expected to announce the creation of Africa Command before the end of the month.

1 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。

2 intercepted   

拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻

参考例句：

• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave the hotel. 他正要离开旅馆，记者们把他拦截住了。
• Reporters intercepted him as he tried to leave by the rear entrance. 他想从后门溜走，记者把他截住了。

3 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 prudently   

adv. 谨慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。
• They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。

5 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。

6 piracy   

n.海盗行为，剽窃，著作权侵害

参考例句：

• The government has already adopted effective measures against piracy.政府已采取有效措施惩治盗版行为。
• They made the place a notorious centre of piracy.他们把这地方变成了臭名昭著的海盗中心。

7 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

8 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

9 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

10 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。

11 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

12 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。

13 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。

14 consolidate   

v.使加固，使加强；(把...)联为一体，合并

参考例句：

• The two banks will consolidate in July next year. 这两家银行明年7月将合并。
• The government hoped to consolidate ten states to form three new ones.政府希望把十个州合并成三个新的州。

15 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

16 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓