2006年VOA标准英语-Sectarian Violence Continues in Baghdad

By Meredith Buel
Washington
14 September 2006

Iraqi security forces have found the bodies of at least 20 more people in Baghdad Thursday, bringing the number of victims of apparent sectarian violence to more than 80 in the last two days. The spike¹ in killings² comes as Iraqi security and U.S.-led multinational³ forces continue military sweeps in the Iraqi capital in an effort to restore order.

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Iraqis walk past a blood pool at the site where a car bomb went off in east Baghdad, 14 September 2006    
  
The top U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, Major General William Caldwell, says the recent upsurge in violence is due to what he called "murder-executions."

Caldwell insists, however, that the situation is improving in neighborhoods the military has targeted as part of its month-long Operation Together Forward, a mission to restore security in Baghdad after months of sectarian violence.

Caldwell told reporters in Baghdad that U.S. forces have arrested a senior al-Qaida terrorist and personal associate of the group's leader in Iraq.

"The key outcome of these raids was the capture of over 70 suspected terrorists of which one was the personal associate of Abu Ayyub al-Masri," said General Caldwell. "This associate of al-Masri was the leader of assassination⁴, kidnapping and IED [improvised explosive device] cells in Baghdad. He is known to have directly participated in numerous terrorist acts, including kidnappings and executions, terrorist acts and others contributing to sectarian violence throughout the city."

Caldwell says the man, who he did not identify, played a key role in al-Qaida's activities in Fallujah before a major battle between insurgents⁵ and U.S. forces in November 2004. 
 

Barham Salih at the Pentagon   
  
Meanwhile, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Barham Salih, met with Defense⁶ Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon to discuss the sectarian violence and the continuing efforts to train more Iraqi security forces.

After the meeting Salih told reporters armed militias⁷ continue to be a serious threat to the authority of the Iraqi government.

"The military situation is a very, very serious challenge for Iraqis and for the Iraqi government," he said. "It touches upon the heart of the credibility of the Iraqi government and governing institutions. The prime minister has been adamant⁸ that this cannot be tolerated and that the state must be the sole holder⁹ of weapons as such."

The Iraqi deputy prime minister says the government will submit new legislation before parliament next month to disband the militias.

1 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

2 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

3 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

4 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

5 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 adamant   

adj.坚硬的，固执的

参考例句：

• We are adamant on the building of a well-off society.在建设小康社会这一点上，我们是坚定不移的。
• Veronica was quite adamant that they should stay on.维罗妮卡坚信他们必须继续留下去。

9 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。