AS IT IS 2016-05-10 Chaos in Iraq Puts Fight Against IS at Risk

AS IT IS 2016-05-10 Chaos¹ in Iraq Puts Fight Against IS at Risk

The United States is expressing concern about the rising political unrest in Iraq.

The Obama administration is concerned about how the unrest will affect the fight against the self-declared Islamic State group.

Recently, protesters raided the Green Zone in Baghdad. The Green Zone is the protected area of Iraq’s capital where foreigners live and work.

Sheikh Sabah took part in the protests. “This is what we want,” he said. “If there are no reforms the whole government should be replaced.”

Shi’ite clergyman Muqtada al-Sadr sent the protesters to the Green Zone to pressure the Iraqi government. The government led by another Shi’ite, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

This is just one example of divisions within the country.

James Jeffrey served as the U.S. Ambassador to Iraq under President Barack Obama.

He says from the U.S. position, there is probably about a 60 percent chance that Iraq will stabilize², at what he calls, the same level of  dysfunctionality.

The United States has supported Abadi’s effort to build a central government across different religious groups. The hope is that a stronger government will help Iraqi and local forces beat back Islamic State forces.

But with the rising disorder³ and trouble, President Obama is urging the Iraqi government to move quickly.

"It's up to the Iraqi people to determine the government that they form. We do think, however, that it is vital for the health and stability of Iraq that the cabinet and the makeup⁴ of government is finalized⁵ and stabilized⁶. And we've been urging them to get the job done."

With a weak government, Jeffrey says, U.S. officials should not depend on the Iraqi government to successfully face the militant⁷ group. That is, unless Washington is willing to do more militarily.

Jeffrey says the U.S. should continue fighting against the IS militants⁸. He adds, if the Iraqi government falls apart, then there other groups, like the Kurds and local Sunni tribes, which the U.S. military can turn to and train.

The Iraqi army and local forces have made gains in recent months with the help of U.S. airstrikes and military trainers.

But the growing U.S. military presence comes at a cost. A member of the U.S. armed forces was killed Tuesday near the city of Mosul. He was part of a U.S. military effort to help Christian⁹ and Kurdish fighters against IS forces.

The Obama administration has predicted that Iraq and local forces, backed by the coalition¹⁰, will recapture Mosul by the end of the year.

But observers say the political unrest will not help in the fight to defeat the extremists.

While IS has lost about 40 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq, it still keeps control of large areas.

Words in This Story

stabilize – v. to be still or right; to stop going up or going down

dysfunctional – adj.  having poor and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes; confused and without direction

1 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

2 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

3 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

4 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

5 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 stabilized   

v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The patient's condition stabilized. 患者的病情稳定下来。
• His blood pressure has stabilized. 他的血压已经稳定下来了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

7 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。

8 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。

9 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

10 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。