2006年VOA标准英语-Iraq Study Group: Next 3 Months Critical for Co

By Meredith Buel
Washington
19 September 2006
 
Leaders of the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel working to assess the situation in Iraq and make recommendations to lawmakers and the Bush administration, say the next three months will be critical in determining the country's future.

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Over the past six months the Iraq Study Group has met with more than 100 U.S. and Iraqi military and civilian¹ officials to come up with an independent assessment² of progress in the war.

Members of the group recently visited Baghdad and representatives in the U.S. Congress have asked them to make recommendations on how to move Iraq toward a stable and peaceful future. 
 

Baker3" src="/upimg/allimg/070419/1459060.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Co-chairmen of the Iraq Study Group Lee Hamilton (l) and James Baker

The co-chairman of the group, former Congressman⁴ Lee Hamilton, told reporters at a news conference in Washington, the newly formed government in Baghdad faces daunting⁵ problems and has only a limited amount of time to improve people's lives.

"The government of Iraq must show its own citizens soon and the citizens of the United States that it is deserving of continued support," said Lee Hamilton. "The next three months are critical. Before the end of this year this government needs to show progress in securing Baghdad, pursuing national reconciliation⁶, and delivering basic services."

Hamilton says the Iraqi government has limited options and there is no magic formula to reverse the violent situation in Iraq.

But he says Iraqis are clear about their hopes for the future.

"Iraqis want a safer Baghdad and safer communities," he said. "They want an end to sectarian killings⁷. They want electricity, water and a government that fights corruption⁸. No one can expect miracles, but the people of Iraq have the right to expect immediate⁹ action."

Hamilton and the other co-chair of the Iraq Study Group, former Secretary of State James Baker, declined to preview their upcoming recommendations. Baker said the 10-member panel wants to be in complete agreement when it does unveil its recommendations.

"Our report will not be particularly meaningful if it has dissenting¹⁰ views," said James Baker. "We are working very, very hard to achieve a consensus¹¹ report. We are hopeful that we can do that."

Baker says the group's recommendations will not be given to the government or made public until after the November midterm elections so they will not become part of the current political debate in the United States.

1 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

2 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

3 baker   

n.面包师

参考例句：

• The baker bakes his bread in the bakery.面包师在面包房内烤面包。
• The baker frosted the cake with a mixture of sugar and whites of eggs.面包师在蛋糕上撒了一层白糖和蛋清的混合料。

4 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。

5 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

6 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。

7 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。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

10 dissenting   

adj.不同意的

参考例句：

• He can't tolerate dissenting views. 他不能容纳不同意见。
• A dissenting opinion came from the aunt . 姑妈却提出不赞同的意见。

11 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？