2006年VOA标准英语-Terrorist Mastermind Zarqawi Killed in Iraq

By Michael Bowman
Washington
08 June 2006
 
Pentagon video Zarqawi attack

U.S. forces killed al-Qaida's top lieutenant¹ in Iraq, Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, in an airstrike northeast of Baghdad. The news has been met with jubilation² in much of Iraq, and been welcomed by world leaders.

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US soldier at press conference in Baghdad, Iraq stands next to photo purporting³ to show body of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi   
  

First word of Zarqawi's death came from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at a news conference in Baghdad.

"Today, Zarqawi was eliminated," he said.

U.S. military commanders in Iraq showed cockpit video from one of two American warplanes, each of which dropped a precision-guided bomb on a farmhouse⁴ that had been used by Zarqawi and his associates as a terrorist safe haven⁵ near the provincial⁶ capital, Baqouba.

"We had absolutely no doubt whatsoever⁷ that Zarqawi was in the house. There was 100 percent confirmation⁸. And that was the deliberate target we went to get," said U.S. Major General William Caldwell.

Gen. George Casey, left, and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speak to media, Thursday  
  
The commander of coalition⁹ forces in Iraq, General George Casey, said Zarqawi's body had been conclusively¹⁰ identified by fingerprint¹² matching, facial recognition, and scars the terrorist mastermind was known to have.

"It is a great day for the people of Iraq," proclaimed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari. 

At the White House, President Bush also welcomed the news.  

 
President Bush speaks about death of al-Qaida in Iraq's leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
  
"Zarqawi personally beheaded American hostages and other civilians¹³ in Iraq. He masterminded the destruction of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad," he said.

Mr. Bush cautioned that terrorists and insurgents¹⁴ will likely carry on in Iraq without Zarqawi.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair had similar words.

 "The death of al-Zarqawi is a strike against al-Qaida in Iraq, and therefore a strike against al-Qaida everywhere. But we should have no illusions. We know that they will continue to kill. We know there are many, many obstacles to overcome," he said.

US Defense¹⁵ Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld  
  
Speaking in Brussels, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said American forces had been tracking Zarqawi for some time. Once located, they opted¹⁶ against a ground assault on the terrorist den¹¹ out of concern that Zarqawi might escape.

Word of Zarqawi's death prompted a somber¹⁷ response from Michael Berg, the father of U.S. businessman Nick Berg, who was kidnapped in Iraq and believed to have been personally beheaded by Zarqawi in 2004.

"It brings me no joy to see him [Zarqawi] dead. It would bring me far greater joy to see this conflict in Iraq come to an end," he said.

Some pro-al-Qaida Internet sites mourned Zarqawi's death, while others celebrated¹⁸ what they called his martyrdom.

Zarqawi's death came as Iraq's parliament approved Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's nominees for the ministries of defense and interior, ending weeks of political gridlock over the posts in Iraq's new unity government

1 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。

2 jubilation   

n.欢庆，喜悦

参考例句：

• The goal was greeted by jubilation from the home fans.主场球迷为进球欢呼。
• The whole city was a scene of jubilation.全市一片欢腾。

3 purporting   

v.声称是…，（装得）像是…的样子( purport的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cindy Adams (Columnist) : He's purporting to be Mother Teresa. 辛迪？亚当斯（专栏作家）：他无意成为德兰修女。 来自互联网
• To prohibit certain practices purporting to be sales by auction. 本条例旨在对看来是以拍卖方式作出的售卖中某些行为予以禁止。 来自互联网

4 farmhouse   

n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房）

参考例句：

• We fell for the farmhouse as soon as we saw it.我们对那所农舍一见倾心。
• We put up for the night at a farmhouse.我们在一间农舍投宿了一夜。

5 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

6 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

7 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

8 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

9 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。

10 conclusively   

adv.令人信服地，确凿地

参考例句：

• All this proves conclusively that she couldn't have known the truth. 这一切无可置疑地证明她不可能知道真相。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• From the facts,he was able to determine conclusively that the death was not a suicide. 根据这些事实他断定这起死亡事件并非自杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

12 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

13 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

14 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

15 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。

16 opted   

v.选择，挑选( opt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She was co-opted onto the board. 她获增选为董事会成员。
• After graduating she opted for a career in music. 毕业后她选择了从事音乐工作。

17 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

18 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。