VOA标准英语2008年-Gadhafi Seeks Revenge Following Son's Arrest in

Tensions between Switzerland and Libya are continuing to escalate¹ as Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi enacts² a number of retaliatory³ measures to protest the recent arrest of his son and wife in Geneva. The son, Hannibal Gadhafi and his wife were arrested July 15 charged with abusing two of their domestic servants. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's youngest son, 32-year-old Hannibal, and his pregnant wife Aline were staying in a luxury hotel when they were arrested. A Magistrate⁴ in Geneva charged them with inflicting⁵ physical injuries and using threats and force against two of their staff.

The couple left Switzerland after paying a bail⁶ totaling $1.5 million. Since returning home, the Swiss government has felt the heat of Colonel Gadhafi's anger. He has issued a series of reprisal⁷ measures against Switzerland, which show no signs of abating⁸.

Former Director of the Center for Security Policy in Zurich, Kurt Spillman, says he was taken aback by Libya's reaction to this diplomatic flap.

"It is surprising how fast this developed and I think we may have underestimated the speed it might develop because the political system in Libya is entirely⁹ alien to the Swiss law and the democratically controlled processes," he said. "Whereas there, one man can make very quick, very drastic decisions."

Colonel Gadhafi's vengeance¹⁰ was indeed quick and biting. In the past few days, two Swiss citizens have been arrested in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, accused of having violated Libyan immigration laws. The Swiss foreign ministry¹¹ says the men, who work for the Swiss-Swedish technology group, ABB and for Nestle, are being held under what it calls "alarming conditions" in a small cell with 20 other people.

Libya has recalled some of its diplomats¹² from Switzerland, reduced the number of flights there and stopped issuing visas to Swiss citizens.

In its most drastic action, the general national maritime¹³ transportation of Libya says it has stopped all oil exports to Switzerland, and Swiss ships have been banned from entering the country's ports. No confirmation¹⁴ of the Libyan move has been given by Swiss officials.

Libya supplies more than half of Switzerland's crude oil imports. While Managing Director of Swiss Oil Association Rolf Hartl calls this situation deplorable, he says he believes the crisis will eventually subside¹⁵.

"I do positively¹⁶ think we do not have to worry because at the end of the day business as usual will come back," he said. "And, even if at the end of the day there would be a shortage of supply, this will be compensated¹⁷ by other means. And, I do not think this will increase the consumer prices at the pump station."

Hartl says Switzerland has more than four months of oil reserves upon which to draw. It also can buy oil from other sources should the need arrive.

Diplomatic moves are being made to ease the tensions. But Libya's leader insists Switzerland apologize for the arrest of his son and daughter-in-law before relations can be normalized.

 

 

1 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

2 enacts   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The legislative branch enacts laws; the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. 立法部门制订法律，行政部门执行法律，司法部门解释法律。
• Hold phasic characteristic correctly, ability enacts the policy with an actual suit, measure. 正确地把握形势特点，才能制定出切合实际的政策、措施。

3 retaliatory   

adj.报复的

参考例句：

• The process can take years before the WTO approves retaliatory action. 在WTO通过此行动之前，这个程序恐怕要等上一阵子了。 来自互联网
• Retaliatory tariffs on China are tantamount to taxing ourselves as a punishment. 将惩罚性关税强加于中国相当于对我们自己实施课税惩罚。 来自互联网

4 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

5 inflicting   

把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。
• It's impossible to do research without inflicting some pain on animals. 搞研究不让动物遭点罪是不可能的。

6 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

7 reprisal   

n.报复，报仇，报复性劫掠

参考例句：

• There is no political alternative but a big reprisal.政治上没有旁的选择只能是大规模报复。
• They bombed civilian targets in reprisal.他们炮轰平民目标作为报复。

8 abating   

减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The storm showed no signs of abating. 暴风雨没有减弱的迹象。
• The recent public anxiety about this issue may now be abating. 近来公众对这个问题的焦虑心情现在也许正在缓和下来。

9 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

10 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

11 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

12 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 maritime   

adj.海的，海事的，航海的，近海的，沿海的

参考例句：

• Many maritime people are fishermen.许多居于海滨的人是渔夫。
• The temperature change in winter is less in maritime areas.冬季沿海的温差较小。

14 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

15 subside   

vi.平静，平息；下沉，塌陷，沉降

参考例句：

• The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
• The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。

16 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

17 compensated   

补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款）

参考例句：

• The marvelous acting compensated for the play's weak script. 本剧的精彩表演弥补了剧本的不足。
• I compensated his loss with money. 我赔偿他经济损失。