VOA双语新闻 Troop Deployment Near Baghdad

Britain says it could deploy¹ combat troops near Baghdad to free up U.S. forces for counter-terrorism operations before Iraqi elections planned for January.

英国说他们将在伊拉克部署战斗部队，以便使美军腾出手来，在明年一月大选前加强反恐行动。

British Defense² Secretary Geoff Hoon told parliament he expects a decision by mid-week on the U.S. request, after a report from a British military reconnaissance mission.

英国国防大臣胡恩对英国议会说，在英国军队完成侦察任务做出报告后，他预期将于本星期应美国要求做出决定。

Mr. Hoon indicated a combat battalion³, probably the Black Watch regiment⁴ of Scotland, could be moved northward⁵ from the relatively⁶ peaceful southeastern region where it is now headquartered.British media report the Black Watch would take over patrol duties in some towns south of Baghdad, relieving U.S. Marines who could join the fight against terrorists in the Sunni triangle northwest of the capital.

胡恩表示，英军一个苏格兰营可能从伊拉克东南部比较平静的地区调到北部去。英国媒体报道说，这支部队将接管巴格达以南一些城镇的巡逻任务，使当地的美国海军陆战队能够投入巴格达西北逊尼三角地带的反恐行动。

Mr. Hoon played down speculation⁷ that the U.S. request was timed to give President Bush a boost in his re-election campaign against Senator John Kerry, who has complained that the United States is bearing 90 percent of the burden in the Iraq war."I want to make clear that the request is a military request. And although it is linked to elections, it is not linked to the U.S. elections but with efforts to create the best possible security situation in which to hold the Iraqi elections in January," emphasized Mr. Hoon.

外界纷纷猜测，美国此时提出这个要求是因为布什总统为了在总统大选中打击对手克里参议员并借此提高自己的声望，因为克里抱怨美国在伊拉克战争中负担了百分之九十以上的任务。胡恩刻意对这种猜测低调处理。他说：“我要澄清得是，这个要求是一项军事要求。尽管这个行动和选举有关，但并不是和美国的选举有关，而是为明年一月举行大选的伊拉克创造最好的安全局势。”

The defense spokesman for the anti-war Liberal Democrat⁸ party, Paul Keetch, questioned Mr. Hoon on why the United States could not come up with the needed manpower itself."The United States currently has 130,000 military personnel in Iraq. Can the Secretary of State [for Defense] clarify whether the proposed deployment⁹ of some 650 extra British troops is purely¹⁰ for operational reasons? What are those reasons, and why specifically British forces? Why not other United States forces or other coalition¹¹ forces used to working under U.S. control," he asked. "Are none of these available?"

英国反战的自由民主党的国防发言人基契质疑胡恩的话，并质疑美国为何无法自己提供所需要的人力。他说：“美国目前在伊拉克有十三万军队，请问国防大臣能否澄清提议部署额外的六百五十人英国军队是否真的纯粹为了军事原因？是什么理由，而且为什么一定特别是英国军队？为什么不是美国部队或者是在美国领导下的其他联军部队？难道都抽调不出这些部队吗？”

Mr. Hoon said any deployment would be for purely military and tactical reasons, and it was obvious that Britain, as America's closest ally, would be the first choice for such an operation.Other concerns still hang over a British deployment outside of southern Iraq.

胡恩说，任何军事部署都纯粹是出于军事和战术考虑，显然，英国作为美国最亲密的同盟，当然是这项军事行动的第一选择。

Some military analysts¹² predict British troops would be exposed to more attacks if they take a higher profile in backing up a U.S.-led counter-terrorism campaign. The experts also say the deployment would leave about 7,000 British troops in southern Iraq without sufficient reserves if pre-election violence flares¹³ up there.

一些军事分析人士预测，如果英国高调支持美国的反恐行动，那么将让英国军队遭受到更多攻击，分析人士也说，这个部署行动将使英国在伊拉克南部只剩下七千名士兵，如果选举前当地发生暴乱的话，英国军队的人数将不足应付。

More debate on the matter is expected Wednesday when Prime Minister Tony Blair makes his weekly appearance in parliament.

各界预期当英国首相布莱尔星期三例行到议会露面时，将会有更多的辩论。
 

1 deploy   

v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开

参考例句：

• The infantry began to deploy at dawn.步兵黎明时开始进入战斗位置。
• The president said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.总统称并不打算部署地面部队。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 battalion   

n.营；部队；大队(的人)

参考例句：

• The town was garrisoned by a battalion.该镇由一营士兵驻守。
• At the end of the drill parade,the battalion fell out.操练之后，队伍解散了。

4 regiment   

n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制

参考例句：

• As he hated army life,he decide to desert his regiment.因为他嫌恶军队生活，所以他决心背弃自己所在的那个团。
• They reformed a division into a regiment.他们将一个师整编成为一个团。

5 northward   

adv.向北；n.北方的地区

参考例句：

• He pointed his boat northward.他将船驶向北方。
• I would have a chance to head northward quickly.我就很快有机会去北方了。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

7 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

10 purely   

adv.纯粹地，完全地

参考例句：

• I helped him purely and simply out of friendship.我帮他纯粹是出于友情。
• This disproves the theory that children are purely imitative.这证明认为儿童只会单纯地模仿的理论是站不住脚的。

11 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 flares   

n.喇叭裤v.（使）闪耀( flare的第三人称单数 )；（使）（船舷）外倾；（使）鼻孔张大；（使）（衣裙、酒杯等）呈喇叭形展开

参考例句：

• The side of a ship flares from the keel to the deck. 船舷从龙骨向甲板外倾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation. 他是火爆性子，一点就着。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》