VOA标准英语2008年-US General: Iraqi Forces Will Need Long-Term He

A U.S. general formerly¹ in charge of training Iraq's army and police forces since 2007 says they will require long-term assistance from the United States. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, where lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee questioned Army Lieutenant² General James Dubik about the status of Iraqi forces.
　
Commander of the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq U.S. Army Lt. Gen. James Dubik testifies before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., 09 Jul 2008

General Dubik says Iraqi forces now number 566,000, an increase of 122,000 since June of last year.

Nine of 18 Iraqi provinces are under Iraqi control, he notes, with 12 Iraqi battalions³ now at the highest level of operational readiness and 90 at the second highest level.

General Dubik says Iraqi forces are increasingly conducting their own operations, although with U.S. command and control, intelligence, logistics and air support. He lists a number of optimistic statistics. "Gains in the percentage of leaders in their units, the percentage of soldiers who are present for duty, the numbers of air missions and naval⁴ patrols per week, and the overall operational readiness ratings are all trending in a positive direction," he said.

"It's a year in which the Iraqis themselves deployed⁵ their forces on their own initiative, took big risks to do it, and have had success in a series of operations. That success has given them confidence in those forces," said Christopher Straub is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense⁶ for Middle Eastern Affairs.

Members of Congress welcome any good news, but remain skeptical⁷ about its accuracy.

"We need a real and a clear sense of where we are, General, in this effort, and how long it will take for the Iraqi security forces to be able to operate without us, and what the strategy is for getting us there," said Ike Skelton, head of the Armed Services Committee.

General Dubik acknowledges that progress could still be reversed by insurgents⁸ he describes as active and capable, while Iraqi forces still face obstacles in training, leadership and sectarianism. He says holding on to success achieved so far will require ongoing⁹ U.S. support. "To hold on to those successes and achieve the quality, improvements, and professionalization that we all want, continued coalition¹⁰ advisory¹¹ and training teams along with partnership¹² units is necessary as is Iraqi security force funding," he said.

Dubik says Iraqi officials, including Iraq's defense minister, have pointed¹³ to a general time period between 2009 and 2012 during which Iraqi forces could make progress that is still needed.

Straub had this response to a lawmaker's question about recent Iraqi statements about a U.S. withdrawal¹⁴ timetable: "I think the Iraqis with these comments in the last couple of days about timetable are looking at a time when their forces will be ready. So, I don't think there is such a spread [difference] between us, we are very much focused on conditions."

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday that the United States remains¹⁵ opposed to any arbitrary withdrawal timetable, and said Iraqi leaders agree that conditions on the ground in Iraq must be the primary determining factor.

 

1 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

2 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。

3 battalions   

n.（陆军的）一营（大约有一千兵士）( battalion的名词复数 )；协同作战的部队；军队；（组织在一起工作的）队伍

参考例句：

• God is always on the side of the strongest battalions. 上帝总是帮助强者。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Two battalions were disposed for an attack on the air base. 配置两个营的兵力进攻空军基地。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

5 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

6 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。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 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

9 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

10 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。

11 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

12 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。

13 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

14 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。

15 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。