2006年VOA标准英语-General Says US Already Implementing Iraq Panel

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
01 December 2006

The commander of coalition¹ forces in northern Iraq says the reported conclusions of the high-level Iraq Study Group in Washington reflect what his troops are already doing, and also reflect the goals already set for continuing to transfer security responsibility to Iraqi forces. Congress created the study group to assess the situation in Iraq and make recommendations to lawmakers and the Bush administration. The commander spoke² via satellite from Tikrit, Iraq to reporters at the Pentagon, and VOA's Al Pessin reports.

 
Co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group Lee Hamilton (l) and James Baker 
According to news reports based on leaks from the Iraq Study Group, its report next week will call for U.S. combat troops to end their direct involvement in fighting in Iraq by early in 2008, if conditions in the country permit.

Speaking from northern Iraq Friday, Major General Benjamin Mixon said U.S. troops in his area are already working toward that goal.

"I think it certainly reflects what we're doing now, and I can only speak to Multi-national Division North, but I can certainly see great a opportunity to reduce the number of combat forces on the ground in Multi-national Division North, and turn more responsibility over to Iraqi security forces," he said.

General Mixon says he expects to turn over control of all the Iraqi forces in his area to the Iraqi defense³ ministry⁴ by next March, as planned.

He says the Iraqi forces are improving in capability⁵ every day, and he says that could mean fewer U.S. combat troops in northern Iraq well before 2008, perhaps by next summer.

"There'll be decisions made, I'm sure above my level, where we may see reductions in the numbers of forces that are on the ground, and certainly an increase in those that are in a role of advising the Iraqi security forces," he said.

 
US troops inspect the site following an explosion in Kirkuk, 1 Dec 2006
General Mixon says he is already increasing the number of U.S. troops working directly with Iraqi units as trainers and advisers⁶, and he expects that trend to continue.

That is reported to be another key recommendation of the Iraq Study Group. Its report is to be made public next Wednesday.

The general says although criminal, insurgent⁷ and sectarian violence continues in four of the six northern provinces for which he is responsible, the situation is under control enough that he is not concerned about sending some of his U.S. combat troops to help secure Baghdad.

But General Mixon says his troops will continue to be active in the fight, focusing particularly on insurgents⁸.

He said, "We will take less of an active combat role but we will continue to target al-Qaida operatives that are operating within the area and working with our Iraqi security forces, targeting those elements that are emplacing improvised⁹ explosive devices and conducting attacks against the Iraqi populace."

" Look, these are our allies here in this fight, and we're going to stand by them throughout this transition period," he added.

General Mixon says as the Iraqi military takes control of more areas and operates more independently, it will still have large numbers of U.S. trainers, and he will continue to coordinate¹⁰ with its leaders and to conduct joint¹¹ operations as necessary.

1 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。

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 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。

4 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。

5 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

6 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

7 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。

8 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

9 improvised   

a.即席而作的,即兴的

参考例句：

• He improvised a song about the football team's victory. 他即席创作了一首足球队胜利之歌。
• We improvised a tent out of two blankets and some long poles. 我们用两条毛毯和几根长竿搭成一个临时帐蓬。

10 coordinate   

adj.同等的，协调的；n.同等者；vt.协作，协调

参考例句：

• You must coordinate what you said with what you did.你必须使你的言行一致。
• Maybe we can coordinate the relation of them.或许我们可以调和他们之间的关系。

11 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。