Countering Iran's Malign Presence in Syria

 

The United States will maintain a military and diplomatic presence in Syria in order to help achieve a stable, unified¹ and independent Syria, said U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Now Syria remains² a source of severe strategic and diplomatic challenges. The United States, he declared, will maintain a military deployment³ to ensure the lasting⁴ defeat of ISIS and al-Qaida. More broadly, the United States will remain engaged, he declared, to protect our security interests, which require several outcomes in addition to the enduring defeat of ISIS and al-Qaida: the resolution of the conflict between the Assad regime and the Syrian people through the UN-led political process prescribed in Security Council Resolution 2254, leading to a post-Assad leadership that can run a functioning state; conditions that allow refugees and internally displaced persons to begin safely returning to Syria; a Syria free of weapons of mass destruction; and the diminishment of Iranian influence in Syria.

Secretary Tillerson pointed⁵ out that the Iranian regime, has long dreamed of creating a northern arch stretching from Iran to Lebanon and the Mediterranean⁶. To that end, it has dramatically strengthened its presence in Syria though the deployment of IRGC troops and support for Hezbollah and other proxies⁷:

“Through its position in Syria, Iran is positioning to continue attacking U.S. interests, our allies, and personnel in the region. It is spending billions of dollars a year to prop⁸ up Assad and wage proxy⁹ wars at the expense of supporting its own people.”

If the United States were to disengage from Syria, Iran would be given the opportunity to further strengthen its position. “As a destabilized nation and one bordering Israel, Syria presents an opportunity that Iran is all too eager to exploit,” Mr. Tillerson said.

The U.S. plans to help stabilize¹⁰ Syrian territory liberated¹¹ from ISIS and assist in setting the conditions conducive¹² to the implementation¹³ of the UN-led political process. This will support the establishment of a democratic Syrian government not under the control of Assad, which would go a long way toward reducing and expelling malicious¹⁴ Iranian influence from Syria.

“A stable, unified, independent Syria will serve the national security of the United States, its allies, and our partners, said Secretary Tillerson. “If that reality can come to pass it will be a victory for all, and it will support the ability of the Syrian people to pursue their own God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

1 unified   

(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的

参考例句：

• The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
• The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 deployment   

n. 部署,展开

参考例句：

• He has inquired out the deployment of the enemy troops. 他已查出敌军的兵力部署情况。
• Quality function deployment (QFD) is a widely used customer-driven quality, design and manufacturing management tool. 质量功能展开(quality function deployment,QFD)是一个广泛应用的顾客需求驱动的设计、制造和质量管理工具。

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 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。

6 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

7 proxies   

n.代表权( proxy的名词复数 )；（测算用的）代替物；（对代理人的）委托书；（英国国教教区献给主教等的）巡游费

参考例句：

• SOCKS and proxies are unavailable. Try connecting to XX again? socks和代理不可用。尝试重新连接到XX吗？ 来自互联网
• All proxies are still down. Continue with direct connections? 所有的代理仍然有故障。继续直接连接吗？ 来自互联网

8 prop   

vt.支撑；n.支柱，支撑物；支持者，靠山

参考例句：

• A worker put a prop against the wall of the tunnel to keep it from falling.一名工人用东西支撑住隧道壁好使它不会倒塌。
• The government does not intend to prop up declining industries.政府无意扶持不景气的企业。

9 proxy   

n.代理权，代表权；（对代理人的）委托书；代理人

参考例句：

• You may appoint a proxy to vote for you.你可以委托他人代你投票。
• We enclose a form of proxy for use at the Annual General Meeting.我们附上委任年度大会代表的表格。

10 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

11 liberated   

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

• The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
• The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

12 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

13 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

14 malicious   

adj.有恶意的，心怀恶意的

参考例句：

• You ought to kick back at such malicious slander. 你应当反击这种恶毒的污蔑。
• Their talk was slightly malicious.他们的谈话有点儿心怀不轨。