|
As Libyan rebels fell back in the face of a renewed onslaught by supporters of an embattled Moammar Gadhafi, a top U.S. general said Thursday he doubts that rebel forces could push into the nation's capital and deliver the final blow to topple the regime even with the NATO air cover. |
|
頑強抵抗的格達費在支持部隊再度發動攻勢而擊退反抗軍之際,美國一名高階將領在週四表示,他認為反抗勢力就算在北約的空中支援下,也不太可能攻進該國首都祭出最後一擊推翻政權。 |
|
"I would assess that as a low likelihood," said Gen. Carter Ham, the head of U.S. Africa Command. |
|
Ham answered questions about the opposition forces in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. |
|
「我認為發生這項結果的可能性相當低,」美國非洲指揮部指揮官卡特•郝姆將軍說。郝姆到參議院軍事委員會作證,回答了有關利比亞反抗勢力的問題。 |
|
Asked about the likelihood of supplying arms to rebel forces, Ham said that there would have to be "a better understanding of exactly who the opposition force is." |
|
問及提供反抗軍武器的可能性,郝姆表示必須「進一步了解反抗軍究竟是些什麼人」。 |
|
He added that assurances are needed "that those U.S.-provided weapons would not fall into the hands of extremist organizations." |
|
他接著指出,政府必須確保「美國提供的武器不會落入極端組織的手裡」。 |
|
"My recommendation would be that we should know more about who they are before we make any determinations to arm them." |
|
「我的建議是我們應該進一步了解他們,再決定是否提供他們武器。」 |
|
Ham said, "The important part is that, I think at this point, the regime has a significantly degraded ability to continue to attack civilians -- but if I may, with the notable exception of Misrata." |
|
Misrata is a city in western Libya. |
|
郝姆指出:「我認為現在重要的是,利比亞政權繼續攻擊平民的能力已大為降低──但容我這麼說,只有在米蘇拉塔是明顯例外。」米蘇拉塔是利比亞西部的一座城市。 |
|
"The opposition forces have held an area in the northeastern portion of the city, in the port. |
|
And frankly, the port has been operating to get some relief," he said. "But the regime forces are and remain active in the city against civilians." |
|
「反抗勢力在該市北部佔領了部分區域,在港口地區。老實說,那座港口輸入了不少救援物資,」他說:「可是政府軍仍然在那座城市裡迫害老百姓。」 |
|
Ham said he believes that the Gadhafi regime has weakened after nearly crushing opposition forces in a failed offensive last month. |
|
That attack on rebel-held strongholds in the east of the country ultimately collapsed under the weight of NATO air strikes that had begun as part of a United Nations imposed no-fly zone. |
|
郝姆說,他認為格達費在上個月發動的一場攻擊當中雖然差點擊潰了反抗軍,但那次攻擊失敗之後,其政權已經遭到削弱。那次對反抗軍位於利比亞東部的根據地所發動的攻擊,終究在北約的空襲下潰敗。北約的空襲行動是聯合國實施禁航區的部分措施。 |