VOA常速英语2007年-US State, Defense Departments Tighten Rules for

By Meredith Buel
Washington
05 December 2007

The U.S. Departments of State and Defense¹ have agreed to a new system of rules designed to increase control over private security contractors² working in Iraq. VOA correspondent Meredith Buel reports from Washington.

The move to tighten³ oversight⁴ of private contractors follows an incident last September in which guards from the Blackwater company providing security for a U.S. diplomatic convoy⁵ fired on Iraqi civilians⁶ killing⁷ 17 people.

Company officials say the guards were protecting diplomats⁸ when they came under fire, but Iraqi investigators⁹ concluded the shooting spree was unprovoked.

The shooting sparked outrage¹⁰ in Iraq and a joint¹¹ working group was formed consisting of officials from the State and Defense Departments to review the rules of conduct for contractors.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey says the new system is designed to increase communication between State Department security agents, the U.S. military, Iraqi security forces and private contractors.

"Part of this is a simple no surprises rule. We want to make sure that any convoy that goes out is something that any military officer operating in a particular area, knows is coming, has had input¹² into the assignment of, in terms of anything that might be happening in his area of operation that might affect the safety of our people and that we have the possibility and an ability for people, in real time, to communicate with one another because it is a war zone," he said.

Casey says U.S. diplomats and defense officials have agreed on a memorandum¹³ of understanding that includes coordination¹⁴ of movement, accountability and rules on the use of weapons.

"What we have looked at is making sure there is a common understanding of how and when force, in particular deadly force, should be used by personal security contractors," he said.

Casey says the new policy includes a clear training standard for security contractors and an increase in the number of Arabic speakers going out with diplomatic convoys¹⁵ who can communicate with Iraqis.

He says each convoy will include an officer of the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service.

The spokesman says the department will soon install video and audio equipment in security vehicles to record radio transmissions and incidents that might occur when a convoy is moving.

Casey says the State and Defense Departments will now have a common set of operating principles governing the policies toward private security contractors in Iraq.

"A lot of this is about improving the communications and coordination between the two sides to try and make sure we can do what everyone wants to do, which is to make sure our diplomats can carry out their important missions in Iraq, while at the same time doing so in a way that insures the safety and security of everyone involved, not only U.S. military officials but, of course, Iraqis as well," he said.

Casey says the new policy will govern how future shooting incidents are investigated and how to hold accountable any contractors who violate the rules.

The U.S. Ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker and the head of the multi-national forces command in Iraq, General David Petraeus, have agreed to the new plan.

1 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。

2 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

4 oversight   

n.勘漏，失察，疏忽

参考例句：

• I consider this a gross oversight on your part.我把这件事看作是你的一大疏忽。
• Your essay was not marked through an oversight on my part.由于我的疏忽你的文章没有打分。

5 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

6 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。

7 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

8 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

11 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

12 input   

n.输入(物)；投入；vt.把(数据等)输入计算机

参考例句：

• I will forever be grateful for his considerable input.我将永远感激他的大量投入。
• All this information had to be input onto the computer.所有这些信息都必须输入计算机。

13 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

14 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

15 convoys   

n.（有护航的）船队( convoy的名词复数 )；车队；护航（队）；护送队

参考例句：

• Truck convoys often stop over for lunch here. 车队经常在这里停下来吃午饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A UN official said aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. 一名联合国官员说将会暂停援助项目，直到援助车队能够得到充分的保护为止。 来自辞典例句