2007年VOA标准英语-US Envoy Says Reported Death of Iraq al-Qaida L

By David Gollust
Washington
01 May 2007

US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker

The new U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, says the reported death of Iraqi terrorist leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri would be a welcome development. But he says it would not end attacks in that country by al-Qaida. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

Ambassador Crocker says U.S. officials are urgently trying to confirm Iraqi reports that the al-Qaida in Iraq leader has been killed, and he says if they are true it would, without question, be a significant and positive development.

But the U.S. envoy¹, in a video conference with reporters at the State Department, noted² that al-Qaida attacks continued after its previous chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. air strike in June of last year, and that the death of al-Masri will likely be no different:

"I would not expect it to in any way bring to an end al-Qaida's activities in Iraq. We saw the organization adjust to death of Zarqawi," he said. "The sense I have of it is, that it is now a very decentralized terrorist effort, so while removing its current head would be a good and positive thing, I think we have to expect we'll need to continue dealing³ with further al-Qaida attacks."

The U.S. envoy said al-Qaida has mounted a surge of suicide car bomb attacks to try to counter the American troop surge and Baghdad security plan.

Crocker, a veteran of previous Baghdad postings who has been in a current job for a month now, said he found the physical and psychological damage of the latest bombings "sobering."

But he said sectarian killings⁴ in the capital have been declining in recent weeks and that bombing campaign does not mean the security plan has failed.

The U.S. ambassador is due to join Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Sharm el-Sheikh Egypt Wednesday for two international meetings on Iraq.

Some 60 countries will take part in a ministerial level meeting of the international Compact with Iraq expected to focus on debt relief for the struggling country.

The second will bring together world powers and neighbor countries of Iraq including Syria and Iran, both of which have been accused by the United States of helping⁵ foment⁶ Iraq violence.

Crocker said the role of Iraq's neighbors will have a "crucial" bearing on the country's future.

"Clearly what we want to do is see the neighbors, all of the neighbors, commit themselves to constructive⁷ roles and not destructive ones. It's obviously something we can't predict at this point," he said. "But I'm encouraged by the fact that all Iraq's have agreed that they will be at the table, at a senior level, in Sharm El-Sheikh, so this discussion can proceed."

U.S. officials have not ruled out interaction between Secretary Rice and her Iranian and Syrian counterparts. President Bush said Monday Rice would be polite but firm in raising U.S. concerns about their activities in Iraq.

1 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

2 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。

3 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

4 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 foment   

v.煽动，助长

参考例句：

• The rebels know the truth and seek to foment revolution.那些叛乱者知道真相，并且想办法来挑起革命。
• That's an attempt to foment discord.这是挑拨。

7 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。