2006年VOA标准英语-Growing Impatience in Washington Over Iraq Situ

By Bill Rodgers
Washington, DC
15 September 2006
 
watch Iraq report

The latest violence in Iraq is causing deepening concern in Washington, both in the U.S. Congress and the Bush administration.  Lawmakers of both parties are worried that the Iraqi government seems unable to halt the growing sectarian violence. U.S. officials are predicting impending² catastrophe³ if the mayhem is not stopped.

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An Iraqi presenting burns on his body leaves the emergency room of the Yarmuk hospital in Baghdad (file photo) 
  
The anguish⁴ and loss seem never ending.

Funerals for the victims of sectarian violence are a common sight.  This week, the bodies of 60 men were found dumped in various neighborhoods of Baghdad, many bearing signs of torture.

The endless violence -- and a stubborn insurgency⁵ -- are causing deepening concern in Washington.   State Department official David Satterfield sounded a grim warning during a congressional hearing Wednesday.

"If sectarian violence cannot be demonstrably, tangibly⁶ reduced, and that reduction sustained over the next several months -- an Iraq that represents all of its people, is a partner against terror and is at peace both at home and with its neighbors, will be difficult if not impossible to achieve."

He urged the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to make good on promises to end the sectarian violence by fostering political reconciliation⁷ and disarming⁸ militias⁹.  Satterfield, who is the State Department's point man on Iraq, acknowledged this will be difficult because the violence comes from all sides.

David Satterfield   
  
"Killing¹⁰ is taking place at the hands of insurgents¹¹. Killing is taking place at the hands of al-Qaida terrorists. Killing is taking place at the hands of extra governmental armed groups that have a sectarian color to them and a criminal color to them," he said.

The continued power of militias and other armed groups is undermining the chances of peace and stability in Iraq, say Washington policy makers¹.  More U.S. lawmakers are calling for a change of course as the violence continues unabated. 

 
John Duncan  
  
Republican congressman¹² John Duncan said at the hearing, "I think if you find out that you are going down the wrong way on the interstate, you don't just keep on going in that wrong direction.  You get off at the next exit."

Christopher Shays  
  
But Republican Christopher Shays and others disagree. "I would like to put for the record that I voted for this war.  I believe it is an absolutely a noble effort, and with all my heart and soul I believe it would be a catastrophe if we were to leave prematurely¹³."

But with Iraq's political leaders unable to agree and act on measures to stop the violence, there is clearly growing impatience¹⁴ in Washington over the situation.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

3 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

4 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

5 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

6 tangibly   

adv.可触摸的，可触知地，明白地

参考例句：

• Suddenly the problem of future loomed tangibly for me. 突然，前途的问题明确地出现在我眼前。 来自辞典例句
• Virtue is tangibly rewarded. 善行得到具体的报答。 来自互联网

7 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

8 disarming   

adj.消除敌意的，使人消气的v.裁军( disarm的现在分词 )；使息怒

参考例句：

• He flashed her a disarming smile. 他朝她笑了一下，让她消消气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• We will agree to disarming troops and leaving their weapons at military positions. 我们将同意解除军队的武装并把武器留在军事阵地。 来自辞典例句

9 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

10 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

11 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

12 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

13 prematurely   

adv.过早地，贸然地

参考例句：

• She was born prematurely with poorly developed lungs. 她早产，肺部未发育健全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His hair was prematurely white, but his busy eyebrows were still jet-black. 他的头发已经白了，不过两道浓眉还是乌黑乌黑的。 来自辞典例句

14 impatience   

n.不耐烦，急躁

参考例句：

• He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢，他显得不耐烦。
• He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。