VOA标准英语2010年-US: Uganda Bombings 'Backfired'

The United States said Monday that the twin bomb attacks in Uganda attributed to Somali al-Shabab militants² have backfired, only strengthening Uganda's commitment to Somali peacekeeping.  U.S. agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation³, or FBI, are assisting Ugandan authorities in their probe of Sunday attacks on World Cup viewing venues⁴ that killed 74 people.

 

State Department officials said that evidence supports the stated claim of the Somali militant¹ group al-Shabab that it staged the deadly attacks in Kampala.  They also said, however, the bombings that killed dozens of people at two sites hosting television viewers of the World Cup final failed to shake Uganda's determination to continue its lead in the African Union force in Mogadishu.

The United States has provided peacekeepers from Uganda and Burundi with light weapons, training and logistical support for the mission in Mogadishu, which has helped Somalia's Transitional Federal Government fend⁵ off the military challenge from al-Shabab.

At a news briefing, State Department Spokesman P.J. Crowley said Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, telephoned Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni after the bombings to reiterate⁷ U.S. support in the face of what he called the "cold-blooded murder" of innocent civilians⁸.

Crowley said the Ugandan leader told Carson that Uganda remains⁹ committed to the mission in Mogadishu, which he said constitutes the strongest possible retort to al-Shabab and its "narrow, violent vision of the future" for Somalia.

"If Al-Shabab's intent in orchestrating this was to somehow weaken Uganda's resolve, every indication we have says the opposite," said Crowley.  "Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson [and] our ambassador in Kampala have both spoken to President Museveni in the past 24 hours.  He is determined¹⁰ to continue Uganda's constructive¹¹ action, both in Somalia and elsewhere in the region.  So if this was somehow aimed at punishing or weakening Uganda's resolve, we think that this has backfired."

A senior U.S. official who spoke⁶ to reporters said the fact al-Shabab was able to send agents to Kampala for the attacks might signal a change in tactics by the group, but that does not alter the U.S. view of the threat posed by the al-Qaida affiliated¹² group.

Spokesman Crowley said a three-member team from the FBI is already in Kampala assisting in the investigation and that another FBI team is on standby to render assistance, if needed.  He said two State Department diplomatic security officers were also en route to the Ugandan capital.

The spokesman confirmed that an aid worker from a U.S. non-governmental organization was among those killed and that five American citizens were wounded in the attacks, two of them seriously.

Crowley said the United States will be represented at the African Union summit next week in Kampala, which the Ugandan government says will be held as planned, despite the bombings.  The situation in Somalia is expected to be a key agenda item
 

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 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 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。

4 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

5 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

6 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

7 reiterate   

v.重申，反复地说

参考例句：

• Let me reiterate that we have absolutely no plans to increase taxation.让我再一次重申我们绝对没有增税的计划。
• I must reiterate that our position on this issue is very clear.我必须重申我们对这一项议题的立场很清楚。

8 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。

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 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

11 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

12 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。