2006年VOA标准英语-Pentagon Suggests Iran is Training Iraqi Insurg

By Robert Raffaele
Washington, D.C.
24 August 2006
 
watch Iran-Iraq Link report

A senior military spokesman says there is clear evidence that Iran has directly aided insurgents¹ in Iraq. Those comments follow Iraq's deadliest month since the U.S.-led invasion, in terms of civilian² casualties.

----

In the Baghdad neighborhood of al Mashtal Thursday, there were the familiar scenes that have become daily reminders³ of Iraq's insurgency⁴ -- burned out cars, wounded rushed to hospitals, and U.S. and Iraqi troops cleaning up the mess after another suicide bombing. One car blast about 100 meters from the al-Rashad police station killed two civilians⁵ and injured at least five others.

Sectarian violence in Iraq culminated⁶ in nearly 3500 deaths last month, making July the deadliest month there since the U.S.-led invasion in March of 2003.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have accused foreign fighters, especially from Jordan and Syria, of playing a large role in the bloodshed. Now a senior U.S. military official says there is clear evidence that Iran has a direct hand in sectarian violence. 
 

Brigadier General Michael Barbero

Brigadier General Michael Barbero made that accusation⁷ to reporters at the Pentagon Wednesday. He said U.S. troops in Iraq have had no direct contact with Iranian fighters. But he says there is a clear link between the violence and Iran.

"Iran is definitely a destabilizing force in Iraq,” he said. “I think it's irrefutable that Iran is responsible for training, funding, and equipping some of these Shia extremist groups and also providing advanced IED technology to them."

General Barbero declined to say what policy the U.S. should adopt to deal with any Iranian connection to Iraq. But he said any military action that neutralizes⁸ the nation's Shia extremist groups will go a long way toward eliminating Iran's influence.

"We have a very adaptive, intelligent ruthless enemy, and they will adapt to our measures,” said the general. “And there's a saying at the tactical level -- the enemy has a vote.  Well, the enemy in Iraq has a vote, too, and they're going to adapt, and we have to adapt along with them and we have." 

General Barbero said he is encouraged by the job of Iraqi security forces. He says two-thirds of security in Baghdad is now handled by Iraqi units. But despite what he called positive signs, he would only say he is "cautiously optimistic" about Iraq's progress toward a stable future.

1 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

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 reminders   

n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信

参考例句：

• The film evokes chilling reminders of the war. 这部电影使人们回忆起战争的可怕场景。
• The strike has delayed the mailing of tax reminders. 罢工耽搁了催税单的投寄。

4 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

5 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。

6 culminated   

v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• a gun battle which culminated in the death of two police officers 一场造成两名警察死亡的枪战
• The gala culminated in a firework display. 晚会以大放烟火告终。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 accusation   

n.控告，指责，谴责

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。

8 neutralizes   

v.使失效( neutralize的第三人称单数 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化

参考例句：

• The dendrimer locks onto toxins and neutralizes them. 树状物锁在毒物表面，从而中和毒物。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 预防生物武器
• A substance, such as magnesia or sodium bicarbonate, that neutralizes acid. 解酸的，抗酸的，防酸的，中和酸的消除或中和酸度的，尤其胃酸。 来自互联网