2006年VOA标准英语-Iraqi Military Academy Is Key To Victory

By Brian Padden
Irbil, Iraq
03 October 2006
 
watch Iraq Military Academy report

Despite a growing insurgency¹ and increasing sectarian violence in Iraq, President Bush has vowed² stay the course until victory is achieved.  A key to victory, the President has said, is training Iraqi Security Forces.  To see how training is progressing, VOA's Brian Padden recently visited the Zahko Military Academy in the Kurdish region of Iraq.  

 
An Iraqi military cadet being reviewed
Before the Iraqi military cadets can lead, they must first learn to follow.   Here at the Zahko Military Academy in the Kurdish region of the country, young Iraqis are being trained to march, to shoot, to follow orders and to commit themselves to defending a united Iraq. It is a dangerous occupation.   Insurgents⁴ have targeted and killed cadets and their families. 

Two of the cadets, one Sunni, the other Shi'a, are from Baghdad.  They declined to give their names but say neither insurgent³ attacks nor their ethnic⁵ differences will prevent them from serving their country.

 
Cadets training to become military leaders
"We came here to complete our training, and to serve and protect our country.  We see no difference between the factions," said one. 

"This academy has taught us to not make any difference between Sunni and Shia, we are here to serve our country," said the other.

This facility is one of three military academies in Iraq that have trained more than 600 cadets.  The United States has contributed about $9 million in the past two years to renovate⁶ and equip this academy in Zakho. 

 
Sergeant⁷ James Evans
Sergeant James Evans, a U.S. military adviser⁸, says building a disciplined and effective military begins with well-trained and dedicated⁹ officers. "The key to a successful military is to have officers that can leave an academy and take over a company, or a platoon and this is what we are here for, is to set Iraq back on its feet again."

Academy officials say more is needed to turn this fledgling army into a battle ready military force.  Lieutenant¹⁰ Abdullah Ramadan says, in addition to more cadets and more advanced weapons, the officers need to believe in themselves.

 
Lieutenant Abdullah Ramadan
"It is right that everything has changed and most of the terrorists come to Iraq and they kill civilians¹¹, innocent people, child, elderly people. But if I don't defend my country, who will defend our country?" asks the lieutenant.

To win on the battlefield, Lt. Ramadan says, the army and the nation must believe that this idea of a united Iraq is worth fighting and dying for. 

1 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

4 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

5 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

6 renovate   

vt.更新，革新，刷新

参考例句：

• The couple spent thousands renovating the house.这对夫妇花了几千元来翻新房子。
• They are going to renovate the old furniture.他们准备将旧家具整修一番。

7 sergeant   

n.警官，中士

参考例句：

• His elder brother is a sergeant.他哥哥是个警官。
• How many stripes are there on the sleeve of a sergeant?陆军中士的袖子上有多少条纹？

8 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

9 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

10 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

11 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。