布什声称中东停止恐怖行动是明智之举

Bush: Conscious Decision to Stop Mideast Terrorism Needed

Paula Wolfson

White House

13 Aug 2001 16:59 UTC

President Bush says Israeli and Palestinian leaders must show the will to bring violence to a 1)halt. Mr. Bush says there must be a 2)conscious decision to stop 3)terrorism.

The President says the United States is doing all it can to help break the cycle of violence. But he says the 4)ultimate responsibility lies with the Israelis and the Palestinians. "It is so important for there to be the will, the desire. It requires," Mr. Bush said, "two parties to make the conscious decision that we are going to do everything we can to stop terrorism."

Speaking to reporters in Texas, Mr. Bush urged European and 5)moderate Arab leaders to play a more 6)aggressive role in the peace process. The president also rejected criticism of his Middle East policy from those who say the administration's involvement in the region amounts to too little, too late. "We have been engaged in the Middle East ever since I got sworn in as President," Mr. Bush said. "Ours is the administration that sent George Tenet to the Middle East to lay out a 7)platform for discussions among security forces to bring peace to the region. We wholeheartedly 8)endorse the Mitchell Report."

But the cease-fire brokered 1 by CIA Director Tenet is in 9)tatters. And the 10)blueprint for peace drafted by a commission led by former U.S. Senator George Mitchell is on hold. Instead, blood continues to be 11)spilled on both sides.

Two suicide bombings in four days in Israel have increased tensions yet again. The President called the acts of terrorism despicable. And as he spoke 2, there was a hint of frustration 3 in his voice. He was asked if the Israelis have shown enough restraint. "I appreciate the fact that they do show a moderate restraint," Mr. Bush said. "Sometimes they haven't. Sometimes they have."

President Bush went on to say Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has not done enough to stop terrorism. "I think he can do a lot more to be convincing the people on the street to stop these acts of terrorism and violence," Mr. Bush said. "I've said in the Oval Office that it is very important for Mr. Arafat to show 100 percent effort."

Mr. Bush avoided a direct answer when asked if he plans to invite Yasser Arafat to the White House. The President said he will ask the 12)respective parties to meet with him at the appropriate time.

(1)      halt[hC:lt, hRlt]n.停止, 暂停, 中断vt.使停止 vi.停止, 踌躇

(2)      conscious[5kRnFEs]adj.有意识的, 有知觉的, 故意的, 羞怯的

(3)      terrorism[5terErIz(E)m]n.恐怖主义, 恐怖统治, 恐怖行动

(4)      ultimate[5QltImEt]adj.最后的, 最终的, 根本的n.最终

(5)      moderate[5mRdErEt]adj.中等的, 适度的, 适中的v.缓和

(6)      aggressive[5E^resIv]adj.好斗的, 敢作敢为的, 有闯劲的, 侵略性的

(7)      platform[5plAtfC:m]n.(车站)月台, 讲台, 平台

(8)      endorse[In5dC:s]v.在(票据)背面签名, 签注(文件), 认可, 签署

(9)      tatter[`tAtE(r)]n.碎布

(10)      blueprint[5blu:prInt]n.蓝图, 设计图, 计划vt.制成蓝图, 计划

(11)      spill[spIl]n.溢出, 溅出vt.使溢出, 使散落,使摔下vi.溢出, 涌流, 充满

(12)      respective[rI5spektIv]adj.分别的, 各自的