2006年VOA标准英语-Rice Confident Iraqi Cabinet Posts Will Be

By Paula Wolfson
Washington
04 June 2006
 
 
Condoleezza Rice
  
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is downplaying the latest delays in the naming of candidates for two key Iraqi Cabinet posts. Rice spoke¹ after Iraq's parliament put off action on the defense² and interior ministries³.

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Instead of focusing on the delay, the secretary of state says it is important to look at just how far Iraq has come.

"We are a long way from the governing council, which had a new president every month to now, the first freely elected permanent government in Iraq," she said.

During an interview on the CBS television program, Face the Nation, Rice acknowledged the challenges facing Iraq are great. But she stressed, the only way to deal with these difficulties is through the new unity⁴ government.

"Of course, it is difficult. And, of course, there is violence, and everyone is concerned, in particular, about sectarian violence that has risen, but the way to handle this is through a government of national unity, with a strong prime minister, which Mr. Maliki certainly is," said Rice.

It was one of a series of appearances by the secretary of state on the broadcast news programs that fill the Sunday morning airwaves in the United States. Earlier, on Fox News Sunday, she urged patience, expressing confidence the open Cabinet posts will be filled soon.

"I really do believe they will get it settled in the next few days. But, the important thing here is that they get it right. And, when they get it right, and they will get it right, everybody will forget how long it took them," she commented.

Rice noted⁵ that in the interim⁶ period leading up to the naming of his interior and defense ministers, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been handling security matters.

Wrangling⁷ among political factions⁸ prompted Mr. Maliki to leave the two key posts empty when he announced his Cabinet last month. Iraq's parliament had planned to meet Sunday to deal with the vacancies, but, at the last minute, the session was postponed

1 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。

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 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。

4 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。

5 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。

6 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。

7 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

8 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别