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

By Meredith Buel
Washington
15 September 2006

The escalation¹ of sectarian violence continues in Baghdad, where officials say at least 50 bodies were found in a 24-hour period.  In the past several days, officials say more than 100 people have been killed execution-style in the capital, despite a major security offensive by Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition² forces.  VOA correspondent Meredith Buel has more from Washington.

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deserted3 street during prayer day vehicle ban, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006" src="/upimg/allimg/070419/1037410.jpg" width="195" border="0" /> Iraqi army soldiers stand guard with their armored vehicle on a deserted street during prayer day vehicle ban, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Sept. 15, 2006

The commander of the Multinational⁴ Corps⁵ in Iraq, Army Lieutenant⁶ General Peter Chiarelli, says the recent spike⁷ in violence in Baghdad is occurring in neighborhoods outside areas targeted by Iraqi and coalition forces in a month-long mission to restore security to the Iraqi capital.

Commanders are seeking to curb⁸ the sectarian bloodshed between Iraq's majority Shi'ite Muslims and minority Sunnis, who dominated the country for decades under Saddam Hussein. 

In a teleconference from Baghdad for reporters at the Pentagon, General Chiarelli says the number of sectarian killings⁹ has gone down in parts of Baghdad targeted during Operation Together Forward, and soon that mission will expand to include parts of the city where dozens of bodies are being discovered every day. 

"It is a city of seven million people," noted¹⁰ Chiarelli.  "That is going to take time.  This is not a short-term operation.  I've just got to emphasize that.  We have a city where we are trying to knock down sectarian violence and go after those folks, those death squads¹¹ that have caused this new form of violence that, if left unchecked, could lead to civil war."

U.S. military officials say about 12,000 U.S. and Iraqi forces are sweeping¹² through Baghdad neighborhoods, securing buildings and seizing  about 1,200  weapons.

Some of the U.S. troops for the Baghdad operation have come from other areas of Iraq, including Anbar Province, a vast area in the western part of the country that reaches to the borders of Syria and Jordan.

Recent stories in U.S. newspapers quoted a report from a senior American military intelligence officer that offered a "very pessimistic" view of efforts to secure Anbar, considered the heartland of the Sunni insurgency¹³.

The report prepared by Colonel Peter Devlin, the chief of intelligence for the U.S. Marine¹⁴ Corps in Iraq, reportedly says there are no functioning Iraqi government institutions in Anbar, creating a vacuum that is being filled by insurgents¹⁵ linked to al-Qaida. Colonel Devlin reportedly argues that, without an infusion¹⁶ of more U.S. troops and financial aid, the already grim situation in Anbar will continue to deteriorate¹⁷. 

During his briefing, General Chiarelli acknowledged that U.S. troops were shifted from Anbar to support the operation in Baghdad, because, he says, securing the capital is now the top priority of coalition forces

Chiarelli said the U.S. is working with the Iraqi government to improve the poor economic situation in Anbar that is adding fuel to the insurgency."When you go to a governor, when you go to a local official, and you ask them, 'what can we do to lower the level of violence?,' their Number One answer, the thing they always tell us, is 'find jobs for the angry young men,'" said Chiarelli.  "We need help, and we have a commitment from the Iraqi government for help, and as quick as we can get that help out there to start working those economic conditions, I think that is, in fact, a strategy for victory."

Of the approximately 147,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, about 30,000 are in Anbar province. 

General Chiarelli says the U.S. military will not leave Anbar, and he says efforts to stabilize¹⁸ the province are moving in the right direction.  

1 escalation   

n.扩大，增加

参考例句：

• The threat of nuclear escalation remains. 核升级的威胁仍旧存在。 来自辞典例句
• Escalation is thus an aspect of deterrence and of crisis management. 因此逐步升级是威慑和危机处理的一个方面。 来自辞典例句

2 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。

3 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

4 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。

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

7 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。

8 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

9 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。

10 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。

11 squads   

n.（军队中的）班( squad的名词复数 )；（暗杀）小组；体育运动的运动（代表）队；（对付某类犯罪活动的）警察队伍

参考例句：

• Anti-riot squads were called out to deal with the situation. 防暴队奉命出动以对付这一局势。 来自辞典例句
• Three squads constitute a platoon. 三个班组成一个排。 来自辞典例句

12 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

13 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

14 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

15 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

16 infusion   

n.灌输

参考例句：

• Old families need an infusion of new blood from time to time.古老的家族需要不时地注入新鲜血液。
• Careful observation of the infusion site is necessary.必须仔细观察输液部位。

17 deteriorate   

v.变坏；恶化；退化

参考例句：

• Do you think relations between China and Japan will continue to deteriorate?你认为中日关系会继续恶化吗？
• He held that this would only cause the situation to deteriorate further.他认为，这只会使局势更加恶化。

18 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。