VOA标准英语2013--Iraqis Hope Kerry Visit Revitalizes Ties

 

Iraqis Hope Kerry Visit Revitalizes Ties

Iraqis reacted positively¹ to the visit Sunday by Secretary of State John Kerry. In Baghdad's Karada district, coffee-shop owner Raid Fahmi said stronger ties with the Americans would help Iraqis deal with their many problems.

“The Iraqi people hope [the Americans] can bring better security, jobs, electricity, clean water, things like that," he said. 

Singer Raed Fakher noted² that there have been clashes between Sunnis and Shiites in parts of Iraq. And bombings by Islamic extremists continue to kill Iraqi civilians³.

He was glad Kerry voiced concern over the violence.

“The Americans can force Arab countries that are supporting the terrorists to stop their interference in Iraq. And they have the power to do it," he said. 

The U.S. withdrew the last of its combat troops from Iraq 15 months ago. A reporter for Al-Mada newspaper, Sarmad al-Ta'ee, said Iraqis have not forgotten the abuses during the eight-year occupation. But now, he says, U.S. involvement is needed to prevent abuses by the Iraqi government.

“We have a million-man army that is armed with American weapons. Maybe we need some support in intelligence and information, but not the military. We want the Americans, now, back politically on the Iraqi scene," he said. 

Kerry's visit was the first by an American secretary of state in four years. Baghdad University Professor Muntasser Idani says the U.S. needs to re-engage with Iraq in order to balance growing influence by regional powers like Turkey and Iran. 

“Iraqis do not receive signals about USA policy and international policy in Iraq. And Iraqis see only Iranian signals in Iraq and Turkish signals in Iraq. And this is very dangerous," he said. 

He says more forceful U.S. diplomacy⁴ is also needed to address the Syrian conflict, which is aggravating⁵ Sunni-Shiite divisions across the Middle East. 

1 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

2 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

5 aggravating   

adj.恼人的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• How aggravating to be interrupted! 被打扰，多令人生气呀！
• Diesel exhaust is particularly aggravating to many susceptible individuals. 许多体质敏感的人尤其反感柴油废气。