VOA标准英语2010年-Last Full US Combat Brigade Leaves Ira

Military vehicles from last US combat unit in Iraq crosses Iraq's border into Kuwait, 18 Aug 2010

Two weeks ahead of a schedule set by President Barack Obama, the last large U.S. combat brigade has left Iraq.  Pentagon officials stress that some American combat forces remain in the country ahead of an August 31st date to formally transition the U.S. presence to an advisory¹ and training operation.

 

News agencies and television networks - some with reporters embedded² with departing troops - confirmed the withdrawal³ of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry⁴ Division, which crossed into Kuwait at the Khabari border crossing.

The departure came two weeks ahead of the August 31st deadline set by President Obama for formally ending combat operations, and seven years and five months after the U.S. and coalition⁵ forces invaded Iraq.

Word of the Stryker brigade departure came at the end of an otherwise quiet news day in which President Obama concluded a cross country trip focused on the American economy and supporting Democratic political candidates.

There was no public statement by the president as he arrived back from his trip.   A senior administration official was quoted as saying that, although combat forces had drawn⁶ down to 50,000, the formal U.S. mission would still change on August 31.

A Pentagon spokesman said that some U.S. combat forces remained in Iraq, and that combat operations are still scheduled to formally end at the end of the month.  Officials have also emphasized that U.S. forces remaining after August 31 will still be capable of responding to military threats.

In recent weeks President Obama, Vice⁸ President Joe Biden, Defense⁹ Secretary Robert Gates and others spoke⁷ in detail about the changing American role, all stressing the ongoing¹⁰ U.S. commitment to Iraq.

The coming formal transition will fulfill¹¹ a key pledge President Obama made to bring an end to Operation Iraqi Freedom that began under Republican President George W. Bush.

Under a bilateral¹² agreement with Iraq's government, all U.S. fighting troops must be out of the country by the end of 2011. The 50,000 that remain will be engaged in training Iraqi forces, counter-terrorism operations, and protecting U.S. diplomatic and other personnel.

In remarks to disabled American war veterans a few weeks ago, President Obama praised the sacrifices of American forces, saying they helped Iraqis build their political system and defeat al-Qaida in Iraq. 

At the same time, Mr. Obama said Americans have not seen the end of sacrifices in Iraq, noting that terrorists continue to try to derail the progress Iraqis have made. 

More than 4,200 U.S. servicemen and women lost their lives during Operation Iraqi Freedom, with more than 30,000 others wounded.

Although President Obama and American officials have pointed¹³ to an overall reduction in violence in Iraq, there has been an upturn¹⁴ in violence in recent weeks, with bomb attacks, including one this week by a suicide bomber¹⁵ that killed dozens of Iraqis standing¹⁶ in line at an army recruiting station.

 

1 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。

2 embedded   

a.扎牢的

参考例句：

• an operation to remove glass that was embedded in his leg 取出扎入他腿部玻璃的手术
• He has embedded his name in the minds of millions of people. 他的名字铭刻在数百万人民心中。

3 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。

4 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

5 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。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

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 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。

11 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

12 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

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 upturn   

n.情况好转

参考例句：

• Experts have forecast an upturn in the stock market.专家已预测股票市场价格有上升趋势。
• The economy is experiencing an upturn.经济正在好转。

15 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

16 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。