VOA标准英语2010年-US Officials: Iraq Making Security Gai

Two senior U.S. officials say Iraq has made strides in assuming control over its security, but will need continued support from the United States to achieve stability. They told U.S. lawmakers Thursday that the Obama administration is actively¹ involved in helping² the Iraqi government to prosper³, even as it confronts a recent wave of violence targeting Iraqi Christians⁵.
Bomb attacks targeting Iraqi Christians have left more than 60 people dead this month. On November 10, at least five people died and 33 were wounded in attacks in predominantly Christian⁴ neighborhoods.
Ten days earlier, 58 people died, including at least one priest, in a military assault on the Our Lady of Salvation⁶ Church in the Iraqi capital.
An al-Qaida-linked group, Islamic State of Iraq, claimed responsibility for that incident and has been threatening additional attacks against Christians in Iraq.
Despite those setbacks, and the need for further U.S. assistance, Iraq's government is exerting greater control of the country, says Jeffrey Feltman, Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. "Iraqis have made significant strides, particularly in the security area. Iraq has substantial natural resources, rich cultural history, and a resilient, diverse population. But Iraq is not yet in a position to resolve its challenges, and make strategic progress on its own, without continued assistance from us. Left unresolved, the problems Iraq faces have the potential to seriously affect our country's national security, as a weak and unstable⁷ Iraq could provide sanctuary⁸ for international terrorists, become a tool of Iraq's aggressive neighbors and destabilize the Gulf," he said. Feltman testified November 18 before the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. Deputy Assistant Defense⁹ Secretary Colin Kahl also testified. "It is crucial to keep in mind that these attacks have repeatedly failed to accomplish al-Qaida in Iraq's number one strategic objective, and that is, to spark a return to widespread insurgency¹⁰ and communal¹¹ civil war," Kahl said. Kahl said building a long-term strategic partnership¹² with Iraq must include continued U.S. support for the Iraqi security forces, including joint¹³ training exercises. Committee members expressed concern about allegations of Iraqi abuses at Camp Ashraf, an Iranian refugee camp about 80 kilometers north of Baghdad. Iraqi forces clashed with the refugees in July 2009. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee asked about allegations that some Iranians suffering from cancer have been denied medical care. "Mr. Feltman, I can't let you leave this room without telling me, what are you going to do at our State Department about the conditions at Camp Ashraf?," she askedFeltman said the State Department has raised the issue with the Iraqi human rights minister. "I think she's also been a very good advocate for the very values that you're describing. She's working in extremely difficult, " he said.
"...OK, I need a report in writing, cause my time is up, a report in writing. Not on this case, but on the conditions in Camp Ashraf and what the United States and she - director, Secretary of Human Rights, is actually doing regarding the ceasing of torture of these people in Camp Ashraf. She's doing nothing," the congresswoman said. The U.S. handed over control of Camp Ashraf to the Iraqis at the start of 2009.

1 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

2 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。

3 prosper   

v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣

参考例句：

• With her at the wheel,the company began to prosper.有了她当主管，公司开始兴旺起来。
• It is my earnest wish that this company will continue to prosper.我真诚希望这家公司会继续兴旺发达。

4 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 salvation   

n.（尤指基督）救世，超度，拯救，解困

参考例句：

• Salvation lay in political reform.解救办法在于政治改革。
• Christians hope and pray for salvation.基督教徒希望并祈祷灵魂得救。

7 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。

8 sanctuary   

n.圣所，圣堂，寺庙；禁猎区，保护区

参考例句：

• There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
• Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。

9 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。

10 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

11 communal   

adj.公有的，公共的，公社的，公社制的

参考例句：

• There was a communal toilet on the landing for the four flats.在楼梯平台上有一处公共卫生间供4套公寓使用。
• The toilets and other communal facilities were in a shocking state.厕所及其他公共设施的状况极其糟糕。

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 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。