VOA标准英语2008年-US Says Yemen Embassy Attack Bears Hallmarks of

The State Department says the attack on the U.S. embassy in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, was apparently¹ an attempt by terrorists to breach² the walls of the heavily-guarded facility. Officials say the attack bore all the hallmarks of an al-Qaida operation, though they have not concluded who is to blame. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
　
In this photo released by the Yemen News Agency (SABA) smoke rises from the US Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen, 17 Sep 2008

State Department officials are crediting Yemeni guards, and stepped-up embassy security measures, for thwarting³ what was apparently an attempt by terrorists to blast a hole through the walls of the diplomatic compound and kill those inside.

According to preliminary information from Sanaa, two vehicle-bombs exploded outside the main entrance of the U.S. compound, which was also attacked by gunmen on foot who may have hoped to enter the facility through a breach in the walls caused by the second blast.

But the concrete perimeter⁴ withstood the explosions and Yemeni soldiers engaged the attackers, with casualties on both sides.

Reports from the scene said at least 16 people were killed in the incident, including several attackers, Yemeni troops and civilian⁵ passers-by.

The State Department offered no casualty figures, but said the dead included one Yemeni security guard who worked for the embassy.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to express regret for the loss of life among the security personnel and civilians⁶, and appreciation⁷ for current and future anti-terrorism cooperation with Yemen.
　
President George W. Bush

President Bush, at a White House meeting with former U.S. Iraq Commander General David Petraeus, said the attack is a reminder⁸ that the United States remains⁹ at war with extremists who will kill innocents to achieve their objectives:

"One objective of these extremists is to kill, to try to cause the United States to lose our nerve, and to withdraw from regions of the world," President Bush said. "And our message is that we want to help governments survive the extremists. We want people to live normal lives. We want mothers to be able to raise their sons and daughters in a peaceful environment so they can realize the hopes and dreams of a better world."

Yemen has long been a focus of U.S. security concern. The Navy ship USS Cole was bombed in 2000 by al-Qaida members in a speedboat in the Yemeni port of Aden, killing¹⁰ 17 U.S. sailors.

Non-essential U.S. embassy personnel and dependents were evacuated¹¹ from Yemen after a mortar¹² attack on diplomatic housing in April, and were allowed to return only last month.

State Department Spokesman McCormack said the Yemeni government has made strides in boosting security, but could do more.

While a group calling itself Islamic Jihad in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the attack, McCormack said the United States has suspicions that al-Qaida or a local affiliate¹³ may be to blame.

"I think it is safe to say, after talking to the security personnel, that the attack bears all the hallmarks of an al-Qaida attack - where you have multiple vehicle-borne devices, along with personnel on foot, seemingly in an attempt to try to breach the perimeter and actually get inside, get inside the perimeter and try inflict¹⁴ further damage and loss of life," he said.

McCormack said all American staffers are safe and accounted for at the embassy, which has closed temporarily.

He said an interagency team of U.S. experts has been sent to Yemen to join in an investigation¹⁵ of the attack, and that it is premature¹⁶ to discuss a possible new security steps.

 

1 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

2 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

3 thwarting   

阻挠( thwart的现在分词 )； 使受挫折； 挫败； 横过

参考例句：

• The republicans are trying to embarrass the president by thwarting his economic program. 共和党人企图通过阻挠总统的经济计划使其难堪。
• There were too many men resisting his authority thwarting him. 下边对他这个长官心怀不服的，故意作对的，可多着哩。

4 perimeter   

n.周边，周长，周界

参考例句：

• The river marks the eastern perimeter of our land.这条河标示我们的土地东面的边界。
• Drinks in hands,they wandered around the perimeter of the ball field.他们手里拿着饮料在球场周围漫不经心地遛跶。

5 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。

6 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。

7 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。

8 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 evacuated   

撤退者的

参考例句：

• Police evacuated nearby buildings. 警方已将附近大楼的居民疏散。
• The fireman evacuated the guests from the burning hotel. 消防队员把客人们从燃烧着的旅馆中撤出来。

12 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

13 affiliate   

vt.使隶(附)属于；n.附属机构，分公司

参考例句：

• Our New York company has an affiliate in Los Angeles.我们的纽约公司在洛杉矶有一个下属企业。
• What is the difference between affiliate and regular membership?固定会员和附属会员之间的区别是什么？

14 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

15 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

16 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。