美称与IS的战斗不是对穆斯林

 WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Defense¹ Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday the fight against the extremist group the Islamic State (IS) is not a fight with Muslims or Islam.

"We have said... and the president has said this, that in the fight against ISIL (the acronym² for the Islamic State), this is not a fight with Muslims or Islam," said Carter in a joint³ press conference with visiting Indian Minister of Defense Manohar Parrikar.

"This (IS) is an extremist, violent movement which threatens America and needs to be defeated," said Carter. "We're working on accelerating the defeat of ISIL. That's the important thing."

During his congressional hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee Wednesday, Carter said the United States was "at war."

Pentagon chief says anti-IS fight is not fight with Muslims or Islam

"The reality is we're at war. That's how our troops feel about it because they're taking the fight with ISIL every day," said Carter Wednesday.

Also during his hearing Wednesday, Carter said the Pentagon was prepared to assist the Iraqi government with more personnel and attack helicopters to retake the important Iraqi city of Ramadi from the IS.

The Iraqi forces in May lost Ramadi to IS fighters, triggering an unusual anger from Carter, who at that time accused the Iraqis of lacking "will to fight."

Carter's remark Wednesday was the latest sign of U.S. willingness to intensify⁴ its involvement in the fight against the IS.

However, Carter on Thursday refused to predict when Ramadi would be retaken by the Iraqis.

"It has been disappointingly slow, so I'm reluctant to make a time projection," said Carter. "A general answer to that kind of question is as soon as possible."

1 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。

2 acronym   

n.首字母简略词，简称

参考例句：

• That's a mouthful of an acronym for a very simple technology.对于一项非常简单的技术来说，这是一个很绕口的缩写词。
• TSDF is an acronym for Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facilities.TSDF是处理，储存和处置设施的一个缩写。

3 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。

4 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。