VOA标准英语2008年-Italy Deploys Troops to Combat Crime

Italy has deployed¹ thousands of troops across the country in an effort to combat crime. While many Italians appear to be in favor of the move, some have criticized the move as a government attempt to improve its image. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Milan.

Italian police have been struggling to combat rising crime they link to illegal immigration. The number of foreigners living in Milan and other cities across Italy has increased dramatically over the last decade.

Personal security has become a major political issue. And the center-right government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has come up with a military solution.

Riccardo De Corato, Milan's deputy mayor says Milanese and Italians have a low perception of security. He adds that the presence of the military will boost the state's visibility in combating crime.
　
An Italian Army soldier (R) looks on as an Italian Carabinieri paramilitary police officer (L) escorts an unidentified man for an ID document check in a subway station on the outskirts² of Rome, 04 Aug 2008

For the next six months soldiers will be positioned at sensitive sites, like consulates³, public offices and train stations. They will also be deployed at immigrant holding centers and carry out street patrols in cities across Italy.

Government critics say the move is largely cosmetic⁴. But this Milan taxi driver says many of his customers are in favor of the move.

He says 90 percent of the people with whom he speaks are unsatisfied with security. Crime, he says, is a phenomenon that must be fought particularly in multi-ethnic cities with large populations like Milan, Rome and other important Italian cities.

Critics have said the presence of troops in public areas could hurt tourism. But government officials say tourists will feel safer.

The army has been deployed in Italy before for greater security but never on a national level. The last time soldiers were put on the streets was in 1997 to fight a crime wave in Naples.

　

1 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。

2 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

3 consulates   

n.领事馆( consulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Consulates General of The People's Republic at Los Angeles. 中华人民共和国驻洛杉矶总领事馆。 来自互联网
• The country's embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions stationed in other countries. （七）家驻外使馆、馆和其他外交代表机构。 来自互联网

4 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！