2006年VOA标准英语-British General: Iraq Foreign Troop Reduct

By Al Pessin
Pentagon
12 May 2006

US troops in Baghdad (File photo)   
  
In spite of the further delay in forming a new Iraqi government Friday, the second-ranking officer in the U.S.-led Iraq coalition¹ says he expects a reduction in foreign forces to begin soon.  British Lieutenant² General Robert Fry spoke³ from Baghdad to reporters at the Pentagon.

-------------------------------------

General Fry says the formation of the new government, which is expected by the end of next week at the latest, will create a fundamental change in the situation in Iraq.  And he believes that will help create the conditions for the expected start of the drawdown of foreign troops.

"I would have thought that this is a process that could start in the pretty near future," he said.  "I also think it is a process that the incoming Iraqi government would be extremely keen to see under way in order that it can demonstrate its own sovereignty in its own country."

General Fry says from a slow beginning, the withdrawal⁴ should accelerate over the next two years.

"The big challenge, I think, in the future is the way in which we finally hand over the planning for and the conduct and the command of this campaign to the Iraqis.  And we will draw down finally once that process is complete," he added.

The general was asked how long that might take.

"It could be a long time," he explained.  "I think that what we've got to do is be the midwives of the first part of the change here, but we don't have to see that whole process through.  All we have to do is be here at the beginning of the process, ensure that they get a good start, and then allow them to get on with it by themselves."

General Fry would not give any numbers or dates for the start of a troop reduction, but his boss, U.S. General George Casey, has said he hopes to make recommendations on troop reductions by the middle of June.  He has already delayed the deployment⁵ of one brigade of U.S. troops, which could start a reduction if the unit that brigade was to replace leaves as scheduled several weeks from now.

On Friday, General Fry also acknowledged there has been an upsurge in violence in Iraq in recent weeks, particularly in Baghdad, which he attributed mainly to foreign elements in the Iraqi insurgency⁶, particularly the al-Qaida terrorist network.

"We are about to enter a phase here which is likely to be decisive in terms of the political transformation⁷ of this country.  The opposition⁸ knows this just as well as we do, and therefore, this is an event that they are likely to contest," he noted⁹.

U.S. officials have said the strength of the insurgency is one factor that will determine future foreign troop levels, along with the development of the Iraqi government and security forces.  General Fry says the Iraqi army is doing well at the individual and small unit level, but he says there is still work to do to coordinate¹⁰ the activities of larger units and to ensure that they are properly commanded and supplied.  And he says the Iraqi police still need training in a variety of skills needed to deal with ordinary crimes.

The British general also said he believes the new Iraqi government will try to deal with the country's many private militias¹¹ through negotiations¹².  He said the militias cannot be allowed to continue operating on their own.  But he said there is a long process of consultation¹³ ahead before any military action against the militias should be contemplated¹⁴.

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 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。

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 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。

5 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

6 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

7 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

8 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

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 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

12 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

13 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

14 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。