2006年VOA标准英语-US Ambassador to Iraq Emphasizes Positive on Ca

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
13 July 2006
 
U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, sought to emphasize the positive when he offered an assessment¹ of the situation in Iraq before a congressional committee Thursday. But he said sectarian violence remains² a "significant challenge."

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Zalmay Khalilzad gives an update on situation in Iraq during appearance before Senate Foreign Relations Committee 
  
In testimony³ to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador Khalilzad said Americans have reason to be what he called "strategically optimistic" about Iraq, despite the continuing sectarian violence there.

He noted⁴ greater political participation⁵ of members of the minority Sunni Muslim population, which had boycotted⁶ elections in January 2005.  He also said some insurgent⁷ groups have joined the fight against foreign terrorists.

"A divide has opened up between the Iraqi Sunni insurgency⁸ and al-Qaida and irreconcilable⁹ elements, as evidenced that some insurgent groups have offered to provide intelligence, or to conduct operations against the terrorists," he said.  "Key regional countries, as well as the international community have reassessed their perspectives on the future of Iraq, with more and more coming to the view that the new government will succeed, and opting¹⁰ to increase their non-military involvement in Iraq."

But Khalilzad acknowledged there are reasons for concern.

"Terrorists have adapted by exploiting Iraq's sectarian faultlines, and sectarian violence has now become the significant challenge to Iraq's future," he explained.  "The security situation in Baghdad remains extremely difficult, as the capital has become the focal point of terrorists and sectarian violence.  A few countries, particularly Syria and Iran, continue to engage in actions to destabilize Iraq, providing sanctuary¹¹, training, arms and financing to the extremists fighting the new government."

In a speech in Washington earlier this week, Khalilzad refused to characterize the violence in Iraq as the beginnings of a civil war.  On Thursday he left open the possibility that the situation may be moving beyond a sectarian conflict.

"Whether this is the beginning of a civil war or is something that can be contained or reversed, only retrospectively we can judge," he added.

The ambassador again rejected calls for U.S. troops to withdraw immediately, arguing such a departure could be destabilizing for the region and the world.

1 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

4 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。

5 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

6 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。

7 insurgent   

adj.叛乱的，起事的；n.叛乱分子

参考例句：

• Faruk says they are threatened both by insurgent and government forces.法鲁克说，他们受到暴乱分子和政府军队的双重威胁。
• The insurgent mob assembled at the gate of the city park.叛变的暴徒聚在市立公园的门口。

8 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

9 irreconcilable   

adj.（指人）难和解的，势不两立的

参考例句：

• These practices are irreconcilable with the law of the Church.这种做法与教规是相悖的。
• These old concepts are irreconcilable with modern life.这些陈旧的观念与现代生活格格不入。

10 opting   

v.选择，挑选( opt的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• What courses are most students opting for? 多数学生选什么课程？ 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Wells doesn't rule out opting out and then re-signing with Houston. 威尔斯没有排除跳出合同再与火箭重签的可能。 来自互联网

11 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。