Coalition Planes Hit New Targets In and Around Baghdad

Broadcast: Apr 01, 2003

 

U.S troops entered a major city south of Baghdad Tuesday as coalition¹ warplanes ¹⁾blasted new targets in and around the Iraqi capital, including elements of the Republican Guard. Meanwhile, Iraq's information minister read a message on state television he said was from Saddam Hussein calling for a holy war against U.S.-led forces.

American troops entered the strategic city of Najaf south of Baghdad Tuesday as they continue their push, albeit² slowly, toward the Iraqi capital.

VOA correspondent Alisha Ryu says U.S. troops are now in the process of securing Najaf.

"The commander, his name is Colonel Ben Hodges, says that local people have been spotting Iraqi troops and police leaving the city all day long, and they were able to help some of the American soldiers come in and try to secure the town as best as they could," she said. In the air campaign, coalition warplanes pounded government targets in Baghdad and Republican Guard positions ²⁾arrayed around the capital. Witnesses said the bombing attack was among the most intense of the war so far.

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed al-Sahaf says 19 civilians³ were killed and more than 100 people wounded in the recent wave of bombings.

Later, Mr. al-Sahaf read a statement that he said was from Saddam Hussein calling on Iraqis to launch a holy war against coalition troops. The statement renewed questions about the ³⁾whereabouts of the Iraqi leader who has been seen only briefly⁴ on state television since the war began.

In Washington, Defense⁵ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld denied what he said were rumors⁶ being spread by the Iraqi government that cease-fire negotiations⁷ were underway with Iraqi leaders:

"Since this broadcast is sent into Iraq, let me say this to all Iraqis who are listening: The regime is not telling the truth," he said. "There are no negotiations taking place with anyone in Saddam Hussein's regime. There will be no outcome to this war that leaves Saddam Hussein and his regime in power."

Also Tuesday, U.S. military officials both in Washington and at Central Command headquarters in Qatar expressed regret for an incident that led to the deaths of at least seven Iraqi civilians Monday and say it is now under investigation⁸.

U.S. troops shot at a van loaded with civilians, including women and children, as it approached a military checkpoint near Najaf. U.S. officials say they fired warning shots but the van refused to stop.

U.S. troops are on heightened alert at the checkpoints following Saturday's suicide attack in which four Americans died.

The Chairman of the U.S. military Joint⁹ Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers spoke¹⁰ to reporters at the Pentagon. "I'd like to express our regrets to the families of the Iraqis killed yesterday at the [U.S. military] checkpoint near Najaf, Loss of any innocent life is truly tragic¹¹."

General Myers also gave a spirited defense of the U.S. military strategy in Iraq. He was reacting to news reports that U.S. commanders underestimated the level of Iraqi resistance and could have used more troops and tanks before launching the ground war.

"It is not helpful to have those kinds of comments come out when we have troops in combat because, first of all, they are false, they are absolutely wrong, they bear no resemblance to the truth and it is just harmful to our troops that are out there fighting very bravely, very courageously," he said.

On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is on a trip to Turkey aimed at smoothing relations with Ankara and other NATO allies that have been strained by the war in Iraq. Mr. Powell will also stop in Brussels and Belgrade.

Finally, Jordanian authorities say they have arrested several Iraqis suspected of plotting terror attacks on U.S. interests in Jordan. Jordanian officials believe the Iraqis were planning to poison water supplies intended for U.S. troops.

Jim Malone VOA news, Washington.

 

1)    blast[blB:st]vt.爆炸,毁灭,损害

2)    array[E5rei]n.部署，排列, 编队,

3)    whereabouts [5(h)wZErE5bauts]n.下落, 行踪, 所在之处

1 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。

2 albeit   

conj.即使；纵使；虽然

参考例句：

• Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
• Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

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 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

5 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。

6 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 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。

10 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。

11 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。