100 Day Countdown to US Handover Begins in Iraq

100 Day Countdown to US Handover Begins in Iraq

 

Laurie Kassman

 

The top U.S. administrator¹ in Iraq Paul Bremer has marked the start of a 100-day countdown to the handover of power to a provisional government by announcing the establishment of new institutions to fight corruption² and safeguard national security. U.S. administrator also looked back on the past year and what has been accomplished³ toward Iraq's reconstruction⁴.

 

Speaking to a select audience in Baghdad, U.S. administrator Bremer talked about how much electricity had been restored, how many schools reopened and what other public services have been re-established.

 

Mr. Bremer also stressed the significance of Iraq's reappearance on the world political stage and in sports, with athletes set to compete in the Olympics.

 

Mr. Bremer said the U.S.-appointed Governing Council's 25 members should be thanked for their work on the basic law that sets the groundwork for Iraqi sovereignty on June 30. The new provisional government will take charge of writing a more permanent constitution and preparing for elections.

 

"Iraq is now on the path to a full democracy in a united state at peace with its neighbors."

 

Mr. Bremer also pledged more efforts on security. Drive-by shootings, bombings and mortar⁵ attacks against coalition⁶ forces, Iraqi police, foreign contractors⁷ and ordinary Iraqis working with foreigners have claimed hundreds of victims during the past several months.

 

"Iraq's security is the first concern of Iraqi citizens, we hear it every day, and the top priority of the coalition. To assure that Iraq has the structures necessary to do so I will formally create a new Iraqi Ministry⁸ of Defense⁹ and a cabinet-level national security committee later this week."

 

Iraqis had criticized the US decision to dissolve Iraq's 400,000 strong army and security force last year on the grounds it would feel more violence by disgruntled unemployed¹⁰ soldiers.

 

Another top concern is rampant¹¹ corruption. Mr. Bremer has announced the creation of three independent agencies to deal with the issue, including a corps¹² of inspectors¹³ and auditors¹⁴ for government ministries¹⁵.

 

The top U.S. administrator says he will set up an independent agency to govern public broadcasting services as a way to protect the independence of Iraq's media.

 

The new measures are part of the coalition's effort to help Iraqi leaders prepare during the next three-and-a-half months to take control of governing the country.

 

"In 100 days from now, Iraqis will be sovereign in their own land and responsible for their own future," he said.

 

The U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist in 100 days. But Mr. Bremer insisted the coalition members remain committed to continuing their assistance in reconstruction and security programs.

 

注释:

countdown [5kaunt7daun] n. 倒计时

handover [5hAndEuvE] n. 移交

provisional government  临时政府

Baghdad [`bA^dAd] n. 巴格达，伊拉克的首都及最大的城市，位于该国中部，底格里斯河沿岸。

athlete [5AWli:t] n. 运动员，运动选手

groundwork [5^raundwE:k] n. 基础，根基

drive-by adj. 飞驰而过的

mortar [5mC:tE] n. 迫击炮

coalition forces 联合军

dissolve [di5zClv] v. 解散

disgruntled [dIs5^rQnt(E)ld] adj. 不满的，不高兴的

rampant [5rAmpEnt] adj. 猖狂的

corruption [kE5rQpFEn] n. 腐败，贪污

sovereign [5sCvrin] adj. 独立自主的

 

1 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

2 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

3 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

4 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

5 mortar   

n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合

参考例句：

• The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
• The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

6 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。

7 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 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。

10 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

11 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

12 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

13 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 auditors   

n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生

参考例句：

• The company has been in litigation with its previous auditors for a full year. 那家公司与前任审计员已打了整整一年的官司。
• a meeting to discuss the annual accounts and the auditors' report thereon 讨论年度报表及其审计报告的会议

15 ministries   

（政府的）部( ministry的名词复数 )； 神职； 牧师职位； 神职任期

参考例句：

• Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
• The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。