2006年VOA标准英语-US General: Iraq Shifting from Insurgency

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
09 March 2006

The general who commands all U.S. military activities in the Middle East says the situation in Iraq is shifting from insurgency¹ toward sectarian violence, but he says he does not think it is moving toward civil war. Defense² Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Iraqi leaders need to form a new and inclusive government soon to deal with the situation.

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John Abizaid  
  

At a U.S. Senate committee hearing, General John Abizaid said tension in Iraq is increasing, and the type of violence is changing.

"There's no doubt that the sectarian tensions are higher than we've seen," said John Abizaid. "And it is of great concern to all of us. It's my belief that the security situation in the country, while changing in its nature from insurgency toward sectarian violence, is controllable by Iraqi security forces and multi-national forces."

Later, speaking to reporters, General Abizaid said he does not think Iraq is moving toward civil war. But at the senate hearing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said insurgents³ are trying to start one. 
 

Donald Rumsfeld  
  
"Now, obviously, insurgents and terrorists are trying to cause a civil war," said Donald Rumsfeld. "And so they've attacked the Golden Dome⁴ shrine⁵ and they're trying to create sectarian conflict. I don't think they're going to be successful. I don't know. Nobody knows. The plan is to prevent a civil war, and to the extent one were to occur

Secretary Rumsfeld declined to say what role U.S. forces would play if a civil war broke out in Iraq. But he stressed that avoiding a civil war is as much a political issue as it is a military one.

"The situation, to the extent that it's fragile and tense, is as much a governance issue as it is a security issue," he said. "The need is for the principal players in that country to recognize the seriousness of the situation, and to come together to form a government of national unity⁶ that will govern from the center, and to do it in a reasonably prompt manner. And that will be what it will take, in my view, to further calm the situation."

Iraqi leaders have been negotiating the formation of a new government for several weeks, and U.S. officials say finishing that process has become increasingly important. Secretary Rumsfeld says the government must have the confidence of the security forces, must be seen as being fair to all Iraqis and must install ministers who focus on doing their jobs rather than gathering⁷ political spoils.

But the secretary resisted suggestions from senators to issue an ultimatum⁸ to Iraqi leaders, or to set a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal⁹. He says such moves would be counterproductive, but that the Iraqi leaders know they must take control of their country, and that all sides want the foreign troops out of Iraq as soon as the situation allows.

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 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。

3 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

4 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

5 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

6 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

7 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

8 ultimatum   

n.最后通牒

参考例句：

• This time the proposal was couched as an ultimatum.这一次该提议是以最后通牒的形式提出来的。
• The cabinet met today to discuss how to respond to the ultimatum.内阁今天开会商量如何应对这道最后通牒。

9 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。