VOA双语新闻 Troop Deployment Near Baghdad（在线收听）

Britain says it could deploy 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 Defense 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 battalion, probably the Black Watch regiment of Scotland, could be moved northward from the relatively 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 speculation 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 Democrat 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 deployment of some 650 extra British troops is purely for operational reasons? What are those reasons, and why specifically British forces? Why not other United States forces or other coalition 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 analysts 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 flares 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。