VOA标准英语2010年-US, Iraqi Officials Say Iraqi Security

US commander for Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, speaks at a press conference at the U.S. embassy in the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq (File Photo)

A recent wave of violence across Iraq is drawing more attention to the impending¹ decrease in U.S. forces in that country. At least 55 people have been killed in several attacks over a three-day period. Starting September 1, the U.S. military will reduce its troop levels to 50,000, as U.S. forces shift their focus to training and counter-insurgency² efforts. While U.S. and Iraqi officials insist Iraq's security forces are sufficient, others say the country's political instability is a key challenge to quelling³ the insurgency.

Flames and smoke race skyward after one of three explosions in the southern Iraqi city of Basra August 7
Although sectarian violence has dropped dramatically in recent years, bombing and suicide attacks still occur on a regular basis. 

Meanwhile, the failure of March elections to produce a coalition⁴ government is raising concerns about Iraq's ability to stop the violence.

Despite those concerns, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, says Iraqi security forces are ready to assume greater responsibility.  "I think we'll see some first steps toward forming a government by One September, but our numbers are not linked to that formation of the government. Our numbers are linked to the capacity that the Iraqis - of the Iraqi security forces being able to sustain stability. And I think they are moving toward that capacity," he said.

At a recent news conference in Iraq, an Iraqi army commander echoed General Odierno's confidence. "Our security forces are well-prepared and will be responsible for keeping security in the country. We are fully⁵ prepared to take all the responsibilities from the U.S. forces during this phase," said Lt. Gen. Ali Ghaidan.

General Odierno says the 50,000 U.S. troops that will remain in Iraq represent what he calls a "very significant presence."

But others say the uncertainty⁶ of Iraq's future government is a far greater concern. Helle Dale, a Middle East expert at the Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington,  says too much emphasis has been placed on what the September 1 deadline means regarding U.S. troop levels in Iraq.

"One of the the things it was supposed to achieve was to make the Iraqis stand on their own feet. To make the Iraqis form a government. To put pressure on Iraq to get its act together, and that's not happening," she said.

Dale says if Iraq fails to establish a coalition government soon, the burden of implementing⁷ a counter-insurgency strategy, and law and order,  may rest with Iraq's military commanders. "They're in charge of the cities, they're in charge of much of the country. But I think the leadership would almost have to come from them - in order to deal with insurgents⁸ on the ground," he said.

On August 4, the United Nations Security Council called on Iraq's recently-elected legislature to form a government quickly.

The U.N. top's diplomat⁹ in Iraq, Ad Melkert, says delays are contributing to uncertainty,  which could be exploited by those opposed to democracy in Iraq.

 

1 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

2 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

3 quelling   

v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Quelling her grief, she said 'Good-bye! 'again and went on. 她把悲痛压下去，二番说了一声再见，又转身走去了。 来自辞典例句
• The police succeeded in quelling the riot. 警方把暴乱镇压了下去。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

6 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

7 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

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 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。