2006年VOA标准英语-Pentagon Welcomes Iraqi Political Progress

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
24 April 2006

U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has called the naming of Iraq's new top officials a 'thrilling' and 'enormous accomplishment²' that could set the stage for further progress toward establishing security in the country. He also linked the U.S. presence in Iraq to the need to prevent Iran from carrying out policies that he called "dangerous to the world." The secretary spoke³ in an interview with the Pentagon's own television channel.

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Donald Rumsfeld
  

Secretary Rumsfeld says the insurgents⁴ in Iraq have failed to stop three elections, and now have failed to prevent the formation of a new four-year government.

"The Iraqi leadership has gone ahead and selected the top seven political leaders for the period ahead, for the coming government, which is an enormous accomplishment," said Donald Rumsfeld. "They had a governing council, they had an interim⁵ government, they had a transition government. This is the government of Iraq. It's their government in a sovereign nation, and it's a thrilling accomplishment."

Secretary Rumsfeld says violence will continue, as the insurgents try to prevent the new government from consolidating⁶ its position. But he predicted that if competent ministers are selected, particularly for the ministries⁷ of interior and defense, and if they work together and act based on the best interests of the country rather than any one group, Iraqi forces will continue to improve and help establish security in the country.

Rumsfeld and other top U.S. officials have said that the four-month delay in forming the new Iraqi government contributed to the continuing violence by adding to the support for the insurgents and making it difficult for local governments to establish their authority.

In his interview on Monday, Secretary Rumsfeld also linked the U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan to what he sees as the need to prevent Iran from pursuing what he called its "extreme impulses." At a time of increasing criticism of his leadership from retired⁸ generals, and sagging⁹ public support for the war in Iraq, the secretary indicated those who do not like the administration's policy should try to see the conflict in a broader context.

"Those people who suggest that the cost is too great, or it's taking too long and we should not stay the course, it seems to me have to think what it would do for Iran and how it would advance their cause," he said. "And their cause is a cause that's dangerous to the world."

Also on Monday, the Defense Department announced that a 2,500-member Iraqi army brigade took control of nearly 29,000 square kilometers of Najaf Province. Iraqi forces now have primary responsibility for security in nearly all of that province, south of Baghdad. According to a Pentagon map, the Iraqis have responsibility for about one third of the country, including part of the capital, with U.S. and other coalition¹⁰ forces in a supporting role. That is a sharp increase from six months ago, when Iraqi forces controlled only a few small areas.

Spokesman Bryan Whitman would not say whether the increased responsibility given to Iraqi forces will result in a reduction in U.S. troops in Iraq. Top U.S. generals are expected to make recommendations on future troop levels within the next couple of months. Officials say the development of the Iraqi forces and progress toward establishing the new government, particularly the leadership of the ministries of defense and interior, will play important roles in that decision.

1 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。

2 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

3 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。

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 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

6 consolidating   

v.（使）巩固， （使）加强( consolidate的现在分词 )；（使）合并

参考例句：

• These measures are meant for consolidating the system of basic medical care. 这些举措旨在夯实基层医疗体系，让老百姓看大病不必出远门。 来自互联网
• We are consolidating the Chinese and English versions of our homepage. 我们将为您提供中英文版本一起的主页。 来自互联网

7 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。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 sagging   

下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度

参考例句：

• The morale of the enemy troops is continuously sagging. 敌军的士气不断低落。
• We are sagging south. 我们的船正离开航线向南漂流。

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。